PRIDE
NYC Pride Bans Police Contingents Until 2025
Decision comes after years of demands to reduce NYPD presence at annual march
BY MATT TRACY
Following years of pressure
from activists, Heritage
of Pride (HOP), or
NYC Pride, will ban police
contingents from their Pride
march and related events through
at least 2025.
Law enforcement and correction
offi cers will not be allowed to have
contingents in the annual march
hosted by HOP and the NYPD will
be barred from speaking at HOP
events or using their platform.
HOP is also “taking steps” to
reduce the police presence overall
— though the NYPD is still vowing
to work at the events. In a press release,
HOP vowed to “take steps” to
keep cops at least one block away
from events “where possible” and
stressed that the NYPD is not required
to lead fi rst response and
security at their events. Rather,
HOP is boosting their security
budget to ramp up an independent
fi rst response emergency plan featuring
private security and safety
volunteers equipped with de-escalation
training.
HOP explained the changes by
acknowledging the need to create
safer spaces for the community in
light of the escalation of violence
against people of color and transgender
individuals. HOP pointed
to the police brutality targeting
marginalized communities, including
people of color and LGBTQ
folks.
“This announcement follows
many months of conversation and
discussion with key stakeholders
in the community,” NYC Pride
co-chair André Thomas said in a
written statement. “We would like
to extend our thanks to the Anti-
Violence Project, which provided
invaluable advice and counsel to
help us take these important steps.
We are also grateful for the contributions
of David J. Johns, executive
director of the National Black
Justice Coalition; Anita Dolce Vita,
Owner, creative director, and editor
in-chief of DapperQ; Shijuade
Kadree, principal and founder,
Compass Strategies Consulting,
Police offi cers, seen here at the 2019 World Pride March in New York City, will not be allowed to participate in Heritage of Pride’s events.
LLC; and Devin Norelle, model, advocate,
and writer, for their guidance
in helping to inform these
changes.”
In a statement to Gay City News
on May 15, the NYPD said offi cers
would nonetheless be working at
Pride events, saying “we’ll still be
there to ensure traffi c safety and
good order during this huge, complex
event.”
The changes drew sharp criticism
from the Gay Offi cers Action
League (GOAL), which slammed
HOP in a statement.
“Heritage of Pride is well aware
that the city would not allow a large
scale event to occur without police
presence,” GOAL president Brian
Downey said in a written statement.
“So their response to activist
pressure is to take the low road by
preventing their fellow community
members from celebrating their
identities and honoring the shared
legacy of the Stonewall Riots. It is
demoralizing that Heritage of Pride
didn’t have the courage to refer to
GOAL by name in its announcement,
referring to us only as ‘Law
Enforcement Exhibitors.’ The label
is not only offensive but dehumanizing
for our members.”
HOP, which shifted to a virtual
format last year, is again
holding a virtual event on June
27 but is also planning on hosting
“to-be-determined in-person
elements.”
On May 19, days after the announcement,
HOP said the organization’s
leaders held a meeting with
NYPD Chief of Department Rodney
Harrison “to open a dialogue” following
the announcement.
“Our conversation was productive,
though not conclusive,
but opens the door toward
greater reform,” HOP said in a
Twitter post. “The safety of event
attendees is paramount, and
the NYPD will continue to provide
the services they have in
past years, but with increased
emphasis on community affairs
personnel. The NYPD will work
on continuing to reduce visibility
at NYC Pride events. NYC
Pride maintains its position on
GOAL participation, but with the
stated intention of re-visiting in
2025. NYPD leadership is committed
to reform and dialogue
with the community about making
changes. Additional details
of reform will continue to be a
REUTERS/LUCAS JACKSON
part of further discussion.”
While it is yet to be seen how the
new changes will unfold, HOP’s
announcement is signifi cant —
and, to many, long overdue — after
activists felt that HOP had strayed
too far from the original purpose
of the annual Pride march, which
stems from the 1970 Christopher
Street Liberation Day March on
the one-year anniversary of the
1969 Stonewall Uprising when
LGBTQ folks fought back against
police. In addition to the police
presence at HOP’s march, activists
have voiced frustration over
the role of corporations as well as
other policies, such as registration
requirements.
The frustration surrounding
HOP contributed to the formation of
the Reclaim Pride Coalition’s Queer
Liberation March, which bans police,
corporations, and politicians
from participating. The third annual
Queer Liberation March is slated
for June 27 at 3 p.m.
“After we issued demands to
them in the summer of 2018,
they’re fi nally listening — three
years later,” Jay W. Walker of the
➤ HERITAGE OF PRIDE, continued on p.5
May 20 - June 2,4 2021 | GayCityNews.com
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