States emergency services officers to march in TasPride Festival

TASMANIA’S emergency services will don their rainbow colours and join the TasPride Festival march in Hobart.

Preparing for the TasPride Festival march are, from left, Kym Manten from the Tasmania Fire Service, Amulance Tasmania’s Anna Ekdahl, Inspector Robert Blackwood from Tasmania Police, and Cheryl Ames from the Tasmanian State Emergency Service. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

TASMANIA’S emergency services will don their rainbow colours and join the TasPride Festival march in Hobart.

Tasmania Police expects up to 40 police, Tasmania Fire Service, Ambulance Service and State Emergency Services members will march as part of tomorrow’s event.

It will be just the second time the services have participated.

Police Inspector Robert Blackwood said allowing officers to march in their uniforms had been a source of pride for some last year.

“I think as an organisation across all four emergency services we really value a diverse workforce and welcome everyone,” he said.

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Tasmania Fire Service’s Kym Manten said he would march in honour of his friend’s son.

“I’ve seen the struggles that he has been through, which have not been fair,” he said.

“(I will) make a stand for him, because he can’t make a stand at the moment.”

The parade will begin in Bathurst St, opposite Mathers Lane, at 11.30am and will end at Parliament Lawns.

Originally published as States emergency services officers to march in TasPride Festival