THE POLICE COMMISSIONER
CITY OF NEW YORK
Mr. Kazz Alexander
Chair
Heritage of Pride, Inc.
154 Christopher Street, Suite 1D
New York, New York 10014
Ms. Michele Irimia
Chair
Heritage of Pride, Inc.
154 Christopher Street, Suite 1D
New York, New York 10014
Dear Mr. Alexander and Ms. Irimia,
I write to follow up on Heritage of Pride’s decision to exclude LGBTQ+ members of the New York City Policev Department from a march that celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and visibility. Simply put, the decision to ban the Gay Officer’s Action League (GOAL) from the Pride Parade is a disgrace to the spirit of Pride.
Two weeks ago, after months of productive conversations, you informed Detective Brian Downey, the President of GOAL, of your decision to ban his members from marching in uniform and with their service weapons. In response to outrage, your recent public statements attempt an eleventh hour retreat: GOAL members can wear their uniforms, but not carry their firearms.
Unfortunately, that’s not a solution. That’s a PR stunt.
The inconvenient truth here is that Heritage of Pride has long understoody that as a matter of officer safety and public safety, NYPD cops cannot wear their uniforms without their service weapons. To wit, in a correspondence transmitting your decision, you wrote, “Additionally, GOAL and the New York Police Commissioner’s Office clarified that marching in uniform requires the inclusion of a concealed firearm as a matter of public and personal safety … Heritage of Pride’s membership upheld the spirit of the 2021 decision for 2025, which means that uniformed, armed members of the Gay Officers Action League are not permitted to participate as a marching contingent in the requested full-dress uniform.”
It is also the height of hypocrisy to request the security and protection of thousands of armed, uniformed police officers for The March on Sunday and then ban from that event the very officers that proudly represent your community.
In a year when LGBTQ+ rights are under siege in ways we had thought were behind us, this is the time to stand together, not to splinter. In that light, I urge you to reconsider your decision here. Regardless of the ultimate outcome, I want to be clear about two fundamental truths: the NYPD stands with the LGBTQ+ community; and we will never waver from our responsibility to secure all New York City Pride events, including The March.
You’ve already changed your position once in the past 24 hours. You can still do the right thing and change it again.
Sincerely,
Jessica S. Tisch /signed/
Police Commissioner
