Atlanta's Gay Community: "Where's Our Police Liaison?"

By Jim Burress

Atlanta, GA – Hundreds of protestors held a counter-demonstration yesterday at Piedmont Park against an anti-gay Kansas church. While police presence was high, noticeably absent was Officer Dani L. Harris, the Atlanta Police Department's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender liaison. WABE's Jim Burress reports.

Thursday's 45-minute demonstration was mostly peaceful. But as members of the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church moved towards their automobile, the scene turned a bit chaotic, forcing police to hold back the crowd at 10th Street and Charles Allen Drive. But some questioned why Officer Dani L. Harris, APD's official LGBT liaison, was absent.

WABE has learned Officer Harris's absence is because she is on leave from APD. A fellow officer would only say that she will be "out for a while," although he did not know for how long. Harris said, officially, her absence is medically-related:

"I really want the community to know that if I could've been there, I would've been there," officer Harris told WABE.

An interim LGBT liaison has been appointed, but was also absent from the demonstration.

Jim Burress, WABE News.