Police in uniform to join gay pride march for the first time

THOUSANDS of people are expected to join Scotland's biggest gay pride march in the Capital on Saturday including for the first time serving police officers in uniform.

Pride Scotia will see crowds gather at the City Chambers at noon to hear speeches from invited guests before the parade moves off at the sound of the One o'Clock Gun to walk down the Royal Mile, up Abbeymount to Royal Terrace before ending at the Omni Centre in Greenside Place.

Among those taking part will be 70 members of the Gay Police Association from around the UK, participating in uniform for the first time at a Scottish pride march.

The Association's Scottish Co-ordinator, Chief Inspector David Lyle, said: "For a number of years now our members from all over the country have taken part in pride parades in England, but this year will be the first time that we have taken part in one in Scotland.

"With a number of forces, historically chief constables were wary about giving officers permission to march in uniform, but we're at the stage now where every chief constable in the UK has given permission.

"This will be the first time this has ever taken place in Scotland, so it's quite a celebratory day for us and I think it marks quite a momentous occasion for people in Scotland – it's another step on the road toward acceptance of gay people in the police force, and it lets them see that their police service has gay people in it just like every other profession."

In addition to the parade there will be a health and community fair at Mood bar in the Omni Centre from 1:30pm until 5pm, including a performance by the Edinburgh Gay Men's Chorus at 2:30pm. The event will also feature an open acoustic stage and a range of stalls.

McDonald Road library will have a kids' space where children from six months to 10 years can be cared for by the Edinburgh Creche Co-op.

Chairman of Pride Scotia, John Hein, said: "It's just a really nice day out for everybody. We're relieved to be able to find a nice high-profile route, because we thought with the trams it wasn't going to happen, and I don't think you can get a much higher profile route than going past the Parliament and the Palace, where I believe the Queen is due to be in residence this weekend – and she's very welcome to come with her family and join all the other queens on the march!"

The event is not only a day of fun – it also marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York, where a police crackdown at the Stonewall Inn sparked three nights of pitched battles in the streets of Greenwich Village, spawning the modern gay movement.

Mr Hein said it was intended to celebrate what has already been achieved in the fight for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, as well as highlighting changes still sought.

He said: "It's an inclusive day, you take what you want out of the day – just turn up."

Roads along the route will be closed between 12:30pm and 2pm.