Heritage of Pride, Gay Officers Action League clash ahead of NYC Pride March
Commissioner Tisch said GOAL is being excluded from the event. March organizers say they are welcome to participate if officers follow its weapons policy.
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NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch lashed out at Heritage of Pride, the nonprofit that plans LGBTQ+ events in New York City each year, in a social media post Friday – claiming that the group is excluding uniformed officers from participating in Sunday’s Pride March in Manhattan.
“It is the height of hypocrisy that uniformed officers from [the Gay Officer Action League] are fit to line the route and keep everyone safe, but they are unable to march in their own uniform and under their own banner,” her message read in part. “This is in direct opposition to the inclusivity that the LGBTQ+ community has fought so hard for, and it flies in the face of everything that GOAL has achieved over the past 43 years.”
Detective Brian Downey, president of GOAL, also issued a statement:
"This week, once again, GOAL was told we cannot march in the New York City Pride March in our uniforms. We were told our presence, our visibility, makes people uncomfortable. But let's be honest about what's actually happening here."
Heritage of Pride responded in a news release titled “Correcting the record on GOAL’s presence at 2025 Pride March.” It said in part:
“We want to clarify ongoing mischaracterizations regarding police in our March: everyone is welcome to March with NYC Pride, so long as they follow our rules and guidelines, in place to ensure the protection of our marchers, spectators, and community. GOAL, the Gay Officers Action League, asked for an exception to our weapon policy so their members could march in their full dress uniforms - wihich includes the concealed carry of their firearm. Our membership voted this year to continue our policy for all Marchers without any exceptions for GOAL or other organizations.”
It goes on to say that GOAL is welcome to march without weapons and that conversations are ongoing.
