Uniformed officers from West Midlands Police banned from attending Birmingham Pride
– 2 min read
Organisers of Birmingham Pride have announced that uniformed officers from West Midlands Police will no longer be permitted to march in the city’s annual Pride parade, following the force’s refusal to issue an apology for historic injustices against the LGBTQ+ community.
The decision, confirmed by Pride director Lawrence Barton, comes after repeated calls for Chief Constable Craig Guildford to acknowledge the force’s past actions, including instances of entrapment, harassment, and systemic discrimination. While several other police forces across the UK - including the Metropolitan Police and Sussex Police - have issued formal apologies, West Midlands Police has declined to do so on multiple occasions, most recently earlier this year.
In a statement shared over the weekend, Barton said the Pride committee had “resisted calls for a full ban” on police participation but felt compelled to act. “For too long, the police have used Pride events to proclaim solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community without being willing to reflect on the force’s previous actions,” he said. “Pride is not just a celebration. It is a movement rooted in protest, in lived experience and in truth.”
The ban will apply to all uniformed officers and senior officials, though LGBTQ+ officers are still welcome to attend in a personal capacity. Barton acknowledged the emotional toll this decision may have on serving LGBTQ+ officers, stating, “Their identity and service deserve to be acknowledged and respected. But the issue is much wider than any individual officer.”
Peter Tatchell, who leads the Apologise Now campaign, which asks police forces across the country to apologise for past homophobia, said on Instagram: "Birmingham Pride bans uniformed police. BRAVO!
"Why? Because West Midlands chief constable refuses to apologise for past homophobic witch-hunts that wrecked LGBT+ lives
"Some gay men were driven close to suicide by illegal police arrests, harassment, bullying & being outed by homophobic officers. SHAME!"
West Midlands Police has yet to issue a formal response to the ban, though Chief Constable Guildford has previously defended the force’s position, declining to apologise for past conduct.
