Aurora Pride Parade faces cancellation without police support

The Aurora Police Department said Tuesday it is unable to meet the staffing requirements for the third annual Aurora Pride Parade, and unless officers are secured soon the June 12 parade could be canceled.

Aurora Pride applied for a special event permit in January, it was approved May 3. However, the permitting process requires event organizers to work with police to determine a public safety plan based on the size and scope of the event. 

“As of Tuesday, we continue to fall short of the minimum number of sworn law enforcement officers needed to ensure the overall safety of the parade,” Aurora police said in a statement. 

Approximately 20 officers are still needed to fully staff the event.

“Unless the additional officers are secured shortly, APD cannot recommend to the City that the event can proceed as planned,” the statement concluded. 

Police said a number of issues, including sick calls and vacation time, are related to the staffing shortage. 

Despite reaching out to neighboring law enforcement agencies, Aurora Pride told police they are unable to fill the necessary positions required. 

“We are concerned and disappointed, and we are investigating all options available to us,” organizers posted Tuesday. 

The latest developments come just two weeks after Aurora Pride's decision to ban uniformed and armed police officers from marching in this year's parade.

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, who advocated for the city's first Pride Parade in 2018, called the decision "baffling how what is supposed to be an event focused on and celebrating equity, diversity and inclusion is now choosing to exclude others.”

As a result, Irvin said last week that he would not be participating in the parade, and also announced the City of Aurora would no longer have a float in the parade.

GoPride.com will continue to update this developing story.