Pride 2025 Safety, Security, and Accessibility Plan

Event Name: Pride Portland, Maine TRANScends
Date: June 21, 2025
Location: Congress Street & Deering Oaks Park
Organized By: Pride Portland!

1. Purpose and Objectives

This Safety and Security Plan ensures that Pride 2025 is a safe, accessible, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all attendees, participants, performers, volunteers, and staff. It outlines procedures for prevention, response, and recovery from potential incidents, including threats to safety, health emergencies, weather events, and crowd control issues.

2. Core Principles

• Inclusivity: All participants deserve a safe & accepting space regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, disability, or role in facilitating the Pride Parade & Festival. 

• Accessibility: Through partnership with Pine Tree Society & the Portland Wheelers, the Pride Parade & Festival will have ASL interpreters for people in need. And Pride will be joined by the full fleet of the Portland Wheelers to assist people who have mobility challenges. 

• Preparedness: Anticipating and mitigating risks to safety is our top priority.

• Visibility: Law Enforcement will be present and in uniform only. Pride Volunteers will be visible and present as well as the primary contact for safety and security unless law enforcement is needed. 

3. Roles and Responsibilities

Pride Board of Directors: Coordinate logistics, communicate safety protocols & direct volunteers. 

Volunteers: Crowd guidance, assist attendees, escalate concerns to staff/security, and serve as information support.

Medical Tent Team: Provide basic medical support to Festival attendees. 

Maine Stage Team Lead: Ensures the safety, security, and privacy of the talent and support staff at the main stage in the park. 

Community Police Liaison: Manage communications with law enforcement and offer de-escalation support when needed. 
 

4. Safety Measures

A. General Safety

• Follow the instructions of Pride Volunteers, City Staff & Law Enforcement.

• Have a plan, and communicate your Parade & Festival plans with someone.

• No weapons or illegal substances.

• Alcohol is served only in designated areas by licensed vendors.

B. Health & Medical Support

• Med Tent is marked on maps and signage.

• The City of Portland will have ambulances on site for serious medical needs.

• Hydration stations are available throughout the venue.

• Wear weather-appropriate attire, sunscreen, and earplugs if needed. 

C. Lost and Found / Missing Persons

• The information booth will be the dedicated location for lost items and reunification.

• Missing persons protocol with on-site announcement and staff coordination will be organized out of both the Parade & Festival Main stage & Info booth.

• At the recommendation of City staff & law enforcement, we will not organize a meeting area for an emergency event like inclement weather or a terrorist attack. 

5. Security Protocols

A. Crowd Management

• Barriers and barricades will be in place to ensure that Parade attendees stay a safe distance from parade floats and vehicles. 

• Capacity for fenced-in areas like the Beer Garden & the Children’s area will be monitored by partner organizations. 

• Pride Volunteers will ensure crowd management is maintained at both the Parade and the Festival. They are the primary managers for this while working under guidance from law enforcement & City staff.

B. Emergency Procedures

• In case of fire, evacuation, suspicious activity, or violence:

• Call emergency services immediately.

• Notify the event command center or a Pride Volunteer .

• Follow instructions from Volunteers, City Staff & Law Enforcement. 

C. Anti-Harassment and Hate Speech Policy

• Zero tolerance for harassment, hate symbols, or discriminatory behavior.

• Incidents will result in immediate removal and police involvement if necessary.

6. Communication

• Command Center: Located at the Info booth in the Park & Monument Square.

• Portland Non-Emergency Contact Number: (207) 874-8575

• Event App / Website Alerts: Website: prideportland.org - Facebook: Pride Portland Instagram @ prideportlandmaine

7. ICE Contingency Plan

• Do not engage with ICE. Get a Pride volunteer or a Portland PD officer immediately. 

• If you see something, say something! If you think you see ICE agents near a Pride event, please alert a Pride volunteer either in person or by message on our social media. 

• Information: The Portland Police Department is not currently contracted with ICE. 

• A.) If you are not free to go, don’t resist or run away. Remain silent, ask to speak to a lawyer, and state you do not agree to a search of your belongings (if you have any). Bystanders can film as long as they do not get in the way and are transparent; they are filming. Have the right to ask for identification and badge number

• B.) Have a plan on what to do if arrested and who to call

• C.) Don't sign anything

• D.) Don't say anything without a lawyer

• E.) You can locate loved ones taken by ICE at locator.ice.gov | which typically takes up to a day

8. Accessibility and Inclusion

• ASL Interpreters will be provided at the Parade & Festival Main stages.

• The Portland Wheelers will be on-site to give transportation assistance to individuals with mobility-related challenges throughout the Parade & Festival.

• Quiet zones and sensory-friendly areas will be provided in partnership with the ECC.

• Sensory Inclusive Tent in the Family Area with noise-cancelling headphones, fidget toys, weighted blankets, earplugs, and more. All are welcome.

• Clear signage with visual aids.

9. Post-Event Review

• Debrief with security, medical, and volunteers will take place in partnership with Pride Portland. 

• Pride Portland will distribute a 2025 Pride Community Survey after June 21st, 2025. 

• Pride Portland will revise our Safety & Accessibility plan as needed and make necessary updates to incident logs.

10. Contact Information for Pride Portland!

Interim Chair: Tanner Skilton

Chair@prideportland.org 

Volunteer Coordinator: Cayla Winn

Volunteer@prideportland.org 

Accessibility Coordinator: Brenden Williams

Accessibility@prideportland.org 

Local Police Liaison: Trevor Legere 

Development@prideportland.org