H.O.P cancels G.O.A.L — with Pride
Motorcyclists ride through New York’s Greenwich Village
in the city’s annual Heritage Pride March, Sunday, June 28,
2015. The march features thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender people. Associated Press/Mark Lennihan, fi le
Caribbean Life, MAY 28-JUNE 3, 2021 11
Cancel Culture resonated
with members of the NYPD
recently when Heritage Of
Pride (HOP) — the organizers
of the annual Pride Day parade
— announced that uniformed
members of the Gay Officers
Action League (GOAL) will not
be welcomed to join the colorful
spectacle.
Effective immediately, the
ban from the most diverse event
in New York City will temporarily
prohibit NYPD participation
until 2025 when a review will
either extend the ban or lift limitations.
“Effective immediately, NYC
Pride will ban Corrections and
law enforcement exhibitors at
NYC Pride events until 2025,”
André Thomas, HOP co-chair
said.
He added that “at that time
their participation will be
reviewed by the Community
Relations and Diversity, Accessibility,
and Inclusion committees,
as well as the executive board.”
Needless to say, a response
from the police group followed
saying — “The Gay Officers
Action League (GOAL) is disheartened
by the decision to ban
our group from participating in
New York City Pride.”
“Heritage of Pride has long
been a valued partner of our
organization and its abrupt
about-face in order to placate
some of the activists in our community
is shameful.”
While talk has been prevalent
that police presence grates
against the origins of the parade,
HOP activists believe police presence
conflicts with the origins
of the event which commemorates
the 1969 anti-police riots
in response to repressive NYPD
raids at a Manhattan watering
hole named Stonewall Inn.
Relentless surprise visits
often ended with arrests,
humiliation and beatings of
LGBTQ clientele however, that
June patrons retaliated with six
days of protests that is now
symbolic of the early years
when they marched chanting:
“Say it loud, gay is proud.”
It has become a recurring
theme to advocates, sympathizers
and police officers who
identify as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual,
transgender and queer.
The memory of those early
rallies were not forgotten last
year when police railed against
protesters to the murder of
George Floyd. HOP advocates
paralleled the brutality which
they believe revealed the worst
police behavior and should not
be overlooked.
“This announcement follows
many months of conversation
and discussion with key stakeholders
in the community,” the
co-chair added.
He credited the Anti-Violence
Project, National Black Justice
Coalition, and other advocates
for giving HOP the guidance to
make the decision possible.
In executing the ban, the
NYPD would be asked to distance
themselves at least one
block away from the parade and
events related to NYC Pride.
HOP spokesperson explained
that instead of inviting police
into the event they would be
responsible for securing private
security and only use the NYPD
if necessary.
“In the meantime, NYC Pride
will transition to providing
increased community-based
security and first responders,
while simultaneously taking
steps to reduce NYPD presence
at events.”
Although the full force of
the ban will not be evident this
June 27 when a virtual event
will highlight the 51-year-old
tradition, in 2022 the rescinded
invitation will be obvious
when the parade returns to
the streets following easing of
Covid-19 restrictions.
Catch You On The Inside!
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
1st Session Trial Offer expires 8/31/2021