More Than 60 Sheriff's Employees To Take Part In Pride Parade

YBOR CITY, FL -- More than 60 members of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and their families will walk with Sheriff Chad Chronister during Saturday's Tampa Pride Diversity Parade.

The parade will begin at 1 p.m. in Ybor City.

Last year, Chronister made history as the first Hillsborough County sheriff to participate in the parade. This year, the entire command staff, dozens of sheriff's employees and their families will join him, wearing special shirts featuring a rainbow logo and riding on a float decorated with rainbow-colored hearts designed by the sheriff's office.

See related story: Guide To Tampa Bay Pride 2019: What You Should Know

Chronister's participation in the Tampa Pride parade comes on the heels of him announcing an updated Equal Opportunity Employment Policy at the sheriff's office.

"We believe that diversity and inclusion among our applicants and employees is critical to our success as a community partner," said Chronister. "I think there should not be a business, an organization or any type of gathering where someone would allow any type of bias or discrimination of any form. We will not tolerate discrimination in our workplace on any basis, including race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity."

The Equal Employment Opportunity Policy now reads in part; "It is the policy of the Sheriff's Office to recruit and employ persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical/mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military/veteran status and any other characteristic protected by applicable law."