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Recently, Heritage of Pride, the organization in charge of New York City’s Pride events, announced that police and corrections officers will be banned from participating in the city’s Pride activities until 2025. This decision, mirroring similar actions in cities like Toronto and Minneapolis, is set to take effect this year, with a reassessment planned for 2025. While some members of law enforcement have expressed their dissatisfaction, many in the LGBTQIA community applaud this action. This ban is not just timely; it’s necessary when we consider Pride’s origins.
Heritage of Pride stated, “NYC Pride is unwilling to contribute to an atmosphere of fear or harm for community members. This decision challenges law enforcement to recognize their impact and seek meaningful change.”
Pride celebrations stem from the Stonewall Riots of 1969, a pivotal moment in LGBTQIA history sparked by police brutality. That night, trans women and gay men united against relentless police raids at the Stonewall Inn, culminating in a defiant stand where they fought back against oppressive law enforcement. Allowing police to participate in a celebration that honors this resistance seems contradictory at best.
The organization emphasized that they aim to foster safer spaces for LGBTQIA and BIPOC communities, particularly as violence against marginalized groups, especially BIPOC and trans individuals, continues to rise. While the exact individuals who initiated the fight at Stonewall remain unknown, Black and brown trans women are often recognized as the catalysts of that pivotal night. Since then, they have been at the forefront of the battle for queer liberation, often facing the most significant risks, including job discrimination and high rates of violence.
For many, this decision may feel sudden, but activists have long advocated for reducing police presence at Pride. The events of last summer, particularly the protests against police brutality following George Floyd’s death, intensified calls for change. In a climate where discussions about reducing police power are more relevant than ever, it seems incongruous to have an event heavily populated by law enforcement. Above all, the police have not treated the LGBTQIA community any better than they did in 1969, regardless of individual officers’ identities.
Dan Dimant, a spokesperson for Heritage of Pride, remarked, “There’s always been aggression by law enforcement, and it’s been an issue in the community for years.” He noted that recent events, including aggressive encounters between the NYPD and peaceful protestors during last year’s Pride, prompted serious reflection on this decision.
Heritage of Pride plans to replace police presence with trained private security, community leaders, and volunteers. According to André Thomas, NYC Pride co-chair, discussions about removing police began right after last year’s Pride when the community challenged their handling of aggressive NYPD actions toward peaceful protestors.
Despite numerous calls for change over the years, it’s encouraging to see Heritage of Pride finally responding to activist demands. It’s unfortunate that it took heightened tensions from last summer to push them toward this decision, but as Thomas noted, “social movements today demanded action.”
While NYPD representatives have called the ban “disheartening,” the reality is that prioritizing police sentiments over the broader LGBTQIA community is no longer acceptable. Some critics lament the exclusion of LGBTQ+ officers from Pride, but it’s crucial to distinguish that being a police officer is a profession, not an identity. No other occupation conflates job with identity in this manner at Pride events, and it’s puzzling that some officers struggle to separate their professional role from their personal identities.
Brian Downey, president of the Gay Officers Action League (GOAL), criticized the decision as taking the “low road,” but this response is a gross mischaracterization. Heritage of Pride is not barring LGBTQ+ officers from attending; they are simply asking them not to march in uniform or carry firearms. If these officers genuinely wish to celebrate their pride, they don’t need to wear their badges.
Ultimately, police presence at Pride serves more harm than good. This decision reflects a necessary shift toward prioritizing the safety and inclusivity of the LGBTQIA community. I hope this ban becomes permanent, signaling a long-overdue acknowledgment that police do not belong at Pride.
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