Participating law enforcement asked to wear street clothes for Monterey Pride Parade

Organizers of the 3rd annual Monterey Peninsula Pride Parade and Celebration asked some law enforcement officers to leave their uniforms at home for the event Saturday.

Festival co-chair, Tyller Williamson, says the board asked participating police officers to attend in street clothes.

“There are people that have experienced things, particularly from the trans community, and not being accepted for whatever their gender identity is. We’re just trying to recognize that and build a relationship with the police department,” Williamson said.

Williamson says the conflict between law enforcement and the LGBTQ community dates back 50 years –when police raided New York City’s Stonewall Inn. At that time dressing outside of one’s gender was considered a crime.

Pacific Grove Police Officer Maxfield Murray heard about organizers’ idea and decided to get on board.

“There have been a lot of positive and negative interactions with law enforcement throughout history. My goal as a police officer, and being a member of the LGBTQ community, is really to show my support,” Murray said.

Murray helped design shirts for his fellow officers to wear at today’s event with “our community, your police” written boldly on the back.

But Murray says it was the people he marched with that meant the most.

“My husband marched with me today in the parade. Our chief of police is here. We had our police commander and some of our officers. Everybody was out today and it’s really a great feeling to have that kind of support,” Murray said.