At a meeting with the Police Liaison Committee last week, the head of the Philadelphia Civil Affairs Unit agreed to have the department meet with organizers of Pride and OutFest before the annual events, following a dustup at last month’s OutFest.
On Oct. 13, gay couple Anthony Reto and Thomas Berner were arrested by a Civil Affairs officer who alleged that Reto had pushed him after the two posed for a photo in front of antigay protestors. Reto was forcefully held on the ground for several minutes.
The pair turned down a plea agreement and head to trial Nov. 25.
On Nov. 7, Civil Affairs Captain Stephen Glenn met with the committee to discuss how to create a more communicative relationship with festival organizers.
Liaison Committee chair and Philly Pride Presents president Franny Price said Civil Affairs will now meet with her organization, and the Liaison Committee, in the days prior to both events. Civil Affairs, a unit brought in to monitor community protests during street festivals like Pride and OutFest, used to meet with event organizers in advance but hasn’t in recent years.
Price said it was important for officers to understand the 2007 ruling in the lawsuit filed by antigay protestors Repent America.
“I want them to know that the LGBT community knows about their First Amendment rights. There are rules at our events that should be enforced that aren’t,” she said. “We just won a lawsuit that says, ‘Yes, protestors can express their First Amendment right but they are not allowed to disrupt a permit event.’”
Price said building a familiarity among community leaders and Civil Affairs representatives will be important for future events.
“We used to do it all the time and then it kind of stopped. There is a whole new crew of Civil Affairs officers and we think it is important that they are familiar with us and we are familiar with them.”
