NYPD commish walks with armed gay cops in Queens Pride parade, rips Manhattan organizers for barring them: Slap in the face

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch on Sunday slammed the exclusion of LGBT cops from walking in uniform with their guns at Manhattan’s Pride March — before participating with a group in Queens’ version.“Once again, they banned NYPD officers from marching in full uniform later this month,” Tisch said of the Manhattan organizers.“That decision is as hypocritical as it is a slap in the face to the New York City Police Department and to the spirit of pride.”“I call on New Yorkers to join me in speaking out against Heritage of Pride’s offensive and exclusionary stance on this issue,” she said.Tisch delivered her scathing comments before marching in the Queens Pride Parade alongside members of the Gay Officers Action League, who had their guns with them, insisting the weapons are merely a part of their uniform.The Manhattan event organizer, Heritage of Pride, first informed GOAL in 2021 that its members would not be allowed to march in the parade in full uniform in response to a wave of George Floyd protests and anti-cop sentiment.The ban was initially supposed to last four years before the organization would reconsider its prohibition.Organizers have maintained that police officers can still march without their service weapons.Heritage of Pride said in a statement that its members voted, “by a sizable margin,” not to grant GOAL an exception to its policy this year.“‍As always, GOAL members remain welcome to participate in the Pride March, in compliance with our safety rules and guidelines, just like every other March participant.

We continue to engage in dialogue with GOAL and its membership and encourage them to seek avenues of compromise,” the organization said.“We acknowledge that GOAL marchers and other LGBTQIA+ officers have a desire to march openly and celebrate their dual identities, but our membership has spoken clearly multiple times now: They must find a way to do so without their weapons.”The nonprofit said it would continue to ...