Image reproduced from 聯合新聞網

On June 29, the New York City Pride Parade took place in Manhattan, but the police department's LGBTQ officer group, known as the Gay Officers Action League (GOAL), was denied participation. The organizers claimed that allowing armed officers could create a sense of insecurity within the LGBTQ community. This decision prompted strong criticism from NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who asserted that the policy contradicts the parade's inclusive mission.

Commissioner Tisch expressed her astonishment and offense at the exclusion of police members from the parade on social media. She pointed out the hypocrisy of allowing officers to serve in uniform along the parade route while prohibiting them from marching in their uniforms and carrying their own banners. She emphasized that the goal of the Pride Parade is to ensure all participants are “seen” and that LGBTQ officers should have the right to take pride in their identities.

The organizers, Heritage of Pride, responded by stating that the prohibition is not a form of discrimination against police officers, but rather a measure to ensure the safety of all participants within the shared space. Kazz Alexander, co-chair of Heritage of Pride, indicated that community members attending the parade must maintain safety and therefore weapons are not permitted.

Reports indicate that this marks the fourth consecutive year that LGBTQ police officers have been denied participation due to the issue of carrying firearms. The weapons ban was first implemented in 2021, amid a nationwide anti-police sentiment following the Floyd incident. Furthermore, the origins of the New York Pride Parade can be traced back to the Stonewall riots in 1969, during which the LGBTQ community faced significant police violence, making the image of “armed police” a sensitive issue.

Brian Downey, chair of the GOAL team, acknowledged and respected the historical trauma caused by police actions, yet emphasized that times have changed. He argued that LGBTQ officers are also a part of the sexual minority community and should not be excluded. The spokesperson for the parade organizers, Chris Piedmont, addressed Tisch's accusations in a statement, reiterating that while LGBTQ officers are welcome to participate in uniform and display banners, they cannot carry firearms during the parade.

However, Tisch released an open letter the following day, stating that this proposal does not help resolve the issue. She highlighted that, for safety reasons, the police department prohibits officers from wearing uniforms without firearms, a rule that the organizers were already aware of.

During the parade on June 29, Tisch led the GOAL team in a protest among the audience. Governor Kathy Hochul also posted on social media, sharing a video of her visiting the GOAL team during the parade, captioning it with “They deserve to be seen, respected, and accepted.”