The Problem
Every year, far-right protestors come to the Atlanta Pride Parade and harass attendees, attempting to provoke them into violent confrontations; the Pansy Patrol exists to counteract these extremists through nonviolent action and conflict de-escalation. Over the past few years, the protestors have become increasingly aggressive, and de-escalation has become increasingly difficult; in response, Pansy Patrol leadership wanted enhanced training for its members. After interviews with SMEs (including group founder Thom Baker) and an analysis of key training areas, I created a seven-module interactive course on Articulate Storyline 360.
The Solution
The Pansy Patrol Orientation modules include:
1. Meeting Hate with Love – The core philosophy of Pansy Patrol
2. What to Expect – Instigating strategies used by protestors and how to not fall for them
3. How to Prepare – What to do before Pride to mentally prepare yourself & what to bring (and not to bring) when on patrol
4. Know Your Rights (and Theirs) – A quick refresher on the laws & limits of the First Amendment…and how to de-escalate without violating First Amendment rights
5. Intervention & De-Escalation – How to peacefully prevent fights and stop fights in progress
6. Interactions with Law Enforcement – How to successfully navigate encounters with law enforcement on-site at Pride
7. Self-Care – How to care of your mental health after confronting hate
The modules were developed in direct collaboration with Pansy Patrol leadership and were tested and refined based on feedback from veteran and first-time patrollers. I led the team through a successful pilot with a high rate of positive user feedback; both new and returning patrollers felt more prepared for encountering the haters at Pride. The course has also been made available for other Pansy Patrol chapters throughout the Southeast.
