New Zealand pride parade in chaos after ban on police sparks mass withdrawals
by Eleanor Ainge Roy in Dunedin from World news | The Guardian on (#43CCA)
Row engulfs LGBT festival after organisers said some participants felt unsafe marching alongside police in uniform
The New Zealand police, New Zealand Defence Force and numerous major sponsors have pulled out of the country's largest pride parade after organisers banned police and corrections staff from marching in uniform.
Auckland pride parade organiser Cissy Rock said uniformed officers would not be welcome at the February parade, as the organisation had a long way to go in terms of respecting LGBT rights, and some march participants felt unsafe marching alongside uniformed police and corrections staff.
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