The New York Police Department is banned from policing in New York City Pride celebrations this year.
The police ban, which also extends to New York correctional officers, will not end until 2025.
“NYC Pride seeks to create safer spaces for the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities at a time when violence against marginalized groups, specifically BIPOC and trans communities, has continued to escalate,” event organizers Heritage of Pride said in a statement.
NYC Pride announces new policies to address the presence of law enforcement and NYPD at Pride events in New York. The steps being taken challenge law enforcement to acknowledge their harm and to correct course moving forward, in hopes of making an impactful change. pic.twitter.com/DAVtJBtCSR
— New York City Pride (@NYCPride) May 15, 2021
“NYC Pride is unwilling to contribute in any way to creating an atmosphere of fear or harm for members of the community. The steps being taken by the organization challenge law enforcement to acknowledge their harm and to correct course moving forward, in hopes of making an impactful change.”
Heritage of Pride also said that it would review the presence of the NYPD as first responders and security for the event. They plan to use trained private security, community leaders and volunteers to conduct first response and security at Pride events. Organizers will only call on the NYPD “when absolutely necessary as mandated by city officials.”
The first Gay Pride parades and marches took place in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco in 1970. The parade did not take place last year due to the pandemic. In 2019, there were complaints of excessive policing. Event-goers found the departments present to be intimidating.
.@NYCPride’s decision to exclude members of the NYPD from Pride events is hurtful and disappointing. As this scene reminds us, inclusion and dialogue are the oxygen of reform — everything @GOALny stands for as they relentlessly challenge and make us a better department. pic.twitter.com/odLP9FO4U0
— Deputy Commissioner John Miller (@NYPDDCPI) May 16, 2021
Despite many being in favor of the ban, The Gay Officers Action League (GOAL) has criticized the ban.
“Heritage of Pride is well aware that the city would not allow a large-scale event to occur without police presence,” stated GOAL President Brian Downey. “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 [of 1969].”
For decades #LGBTQ groups were discriminated against when they were prohibited from marching #StPatricksDay parades.
— TheOUTFront (@TheOUTFront) May 16, 2021
Today @NYCPrideMarch is discriminating against @GOALny because of their job were they are still targets of #Hate @NYCPride is a #Hypocrite and should be ashamed! pic.twitter.com/7x136hW135