An Open Letter from Victorian LGBTIQA+ activists, artists, lawyers, academics, performers and writers
We believe that all LGBTIQA+ people deserve to be safe at our Pride March. While some people can safely interact with police, their presence makes many more people in our communities unsafe.
Policing and police violence are everyday experiences for many people, especially Aboriginal people, Torres Strait Islander people, African Australians, people of colour, migrants, trans and gender diverse people, people living with HIV, sex workers, poor people, people with disabilities, people who use drugs, and people without a home.
According to the ABS General Social Survey, only half of gay, lesbian and bisexual people feel they can trust the police. Further, 3 in 4 respondents to a 2020 survey conducted by the Victorian Pride Lobby believed that Victoria Police should not march in uniform. For trans and gender diverse participants the figure was higher at almost 9 out of 10 people.
Pride March should be led by and for LGBTIQA+ communities. We do not believe that police serve our interests by participating against community wishes.
All are welcome in a personal capacity, but we call for the decentring of police. Instead, we want to see Pride exist in solidarity with communities worldwide and follow the example of Auckland, Brisbane, NYC, and Toronto Pride.
We call for Victoria Police to cease participating as an organisation at the Midsumma Pride March.
Joshua Badge, writer and letter organiser
Frank Gafa, unionist and letter organiser
Tarneen Onus-Williams, WAR organiser
Sally Rugg, activist and author
Paul Kidd, lawyer
Nayuka Gorrie, writer
Nic Holas, HIV activist
Patrick Lenton, writer
Kiki Devine, House of Dévine
Kee’ahn Bindol, musician
Simona Castricum, musician and academic
Amy Fabry-Jenkins, Bulldog Pride President
Caleb Thaiday (Cerulean), Miss First Nation 2021
Kate McCartney, writer and director
Alexander Powers (Female Wizard), DJ
Phil Ferguson (Chiliphilly), artist
Laura Du Vè, photographer
Roz Bellamy, writer and editor
Alistair Baldwin, writer
Roj Amedi, strategist and organiser
Rohan Leppert , Greens councillor
Gemma Cafarella, barrister
Hannah McCann, academic
Nevena Spirovska, community activist
Onyx Slater (Onyx), DJ
Briar Rolfe, cartoonist
Beau Newham, archivist
Geraldin Fela, unionist
Lee Carnie, lawyer
Adam Pulford, Greens councillor
Eliza Sorensen, Assembly Four co-founder
Nadezda Simonovits (Top Hun), House of Dévine
Niveen Hoe (Hiphophoe), DJ
David Mejia-Canales, lawyer
Emma Whatman, academic
Brady Robards, academic
Patrick Durnan Silva, actor
Simon Graser (Simonetti), DJ
Jesse Mallon (Jesse DM), DJ
Emil Cañita, photographer
Nevo Zisin, writer
Kerry Simple (Simple), academic and drag qween
Sevara Zaric (Stevzar), DJ
Jay Davies, photographer
Keely Windred, performer
Shin (Shinobi), DJ
Ksenija Djordjevic, writer
Hugh Crothers, dripfeed founder
Alex Morris (Bae Marie), performer
Jada, House of Dévine
Carlos (Pepito), House of Dévine
Sophie Forrest, DJ
Jess McGuire, writer
Mark Dos (Nefertiti LaNegra), peformer
Aurelia St Clair, performer
Danielle Binks, author
Dr Yves Rees, academic and writer
Jeanine Hourani, writer
Eman Ezekiel, artist
Max Lawrence, musician
Aliyah Ahmad, media strategist
Regan Lynch (Indiciaa), academic and DJ
Witt Gorrie, abolitionist
Brandy Cochrane, academic
Stevie Valentine, events producer
Christopher Cheers, academic
Patrick Durnan Silva, actor
Ryan Stewart, actor
James Conlan, Greens councillor
Patrick Campbell (Tildaswagton), DJ
Jessica Walton, writer
Dženana Vucic, writer
Kim Ho, actor
Joe Comer, writer
James Petty, academic
Dejan Jotanovic, writer
Ari Tampubolon, artist
Sam McGowan, filmmaker
Jesse Oliver, poet
Chloé Hazelwood, arts worker
Tessa Stevens, arts worker
Brent Allan, researcher
Indra Liusuari, artist
Sam Wallman, cartoonist
Dawn Lee, performer
Austin Fabry Jenkins, unionist
Patty Abalos, arts worker
Mark Binette, physiotherapist
D Flowers, performer
Jacky Chen, musician
Maize Wallin, unionist
Liam Elphick, academic
Hayley Percy, producer
Kati Elizabeth, creative technologist
Gia James, sex worker
Hannah Sycamore, lawyer
Katie Pearson, DJ
Krissy M8riarchy, musician
Anya Saravanan, lawyer
Kin Francis, producer
Kayzar Bhathawalla, photographer
Callum McKenzie (Slurmaid), producer
Devina Potter, community advocate
Matt Wade, community volunteer
Amy Kreitals, community advocate
Sophie O’Bryan, community advocate
Aimee Hulbert, unionist
Corey Rabaut, unionist
Lisbeth Latham, unionist
Samantha Floreani, activist
Sam Elkin, writer
Asher Wolf, activist
Mitch Hibbens, academic
Leena van Deventer, writer
Jess Ison, academic
Felicity Marlowe, community advocate
Ian Woodford, academic
Creatrix Tiara, producer
Tim Krulic, academic
Priya Kunjan, academic
Ethan Hughs, writer
Walton Wong, writer
July Stewart (Julai), House of Dévine
Carolyn D’Cruz, academic
Tom Backhaus, producer
Hannah Morphy-Walsh, artist
Bayley Turner, performer
Erin Kyan, writer
Alison Evans, writer
Michael Whelan, activist
Elyce Phillips, artist
Lauren Bull, lawyer
Ben Scott, academic
Dettie Sebastian, artist
Bo Bickmore, writer
Lauren Clair (Nikki Darling), activist
Rebecca Dominguez, Bi Alliance President
Kelly Gardiner, writer
Kyle KM, artist
Xavier O’Shannessy, performer and producer