Community Splits as SpringOUT tell Police they can’t attend Fair Day!

In response to members of the community, the organisers of Canberra's SpringOUT Festival have decided not to include a plainclothes police stall at this year's Pride Fair Day. The committee issued a statement acknowledging the concerns and outlined plans for further consultation. It's been a difficult time for the committee as other community members strongly favour including the local police force, saying healing can't happen if we don't include everyone.

We are looking for community input on this delcate matter. If you would like to share your thoughts please email us.

Much like other Australian pride events, including Mardi Gras, Midsumma, and Brisbane Pride, the Canberra SpringOUT Festival has faced growing concerns from some community members regarding police involvement. With the festival set to take place in November, organisers felt compelled to act after receiving complaints about the police being at their main event, Far Day, in Glebe Park.

In their statement, the committee explained they had received conflicting feedback. Some community members strongly opposed police involvement, while others supported the idea of police participating.

“Over the course of the past week, SpringOUT has been listening to the community views expressed about police attendance at Fair Day on 2 November, and as part of the festival more broadly. Some called for there to be no police presence in any capacity at the festival, and others have called for the police to be present with a stall at Fair Day and in other capacities” - SpringOUT

The SpringOUT committee held an urgent meeting to discuss the matter and decided not to have a police presence at this year's event. Instead, they are focusing on ongoing discussions to better understand some community members' concerns.

A Need for More Consultation

The SpringOUT committee acknowledged the issue's complexity, admitting that their initial attempt to gauge public opinion through an online poll could have been more effective. They apologised for presenting the poll as a quick fix to a sensitive issue and recognised that it didn't allow all voices to be heard, particularly those not active on social media.

The committee has committed to a more thorough consultation process in early 2025 to address this. They will ensure that marginalised voices within the LGBTQIA+ community are given priority in these discussions.

The committee said they will work with ACT Policing to explore other ways for the police to participate in the festival, such as introducing the LGBTIQ+ Liaison Officer at a separate event. While not everyone may agree with the decision, they hope future conversations will remain respectful.

SpringOUT says it remains committed to finding a solution that reflects the views and safety concerns of all community members as it prepares for the next Pride Fair Day.