Leaders of the New York City Anti-Violence Project, an L.G.B.T.Q. rights group, which has been a proponent of limiting the police’s role in Pride, said the organization’s hotline consistently receives calls during Pride reporting police harassment. In 2020 the organization supported 1,453 victims of violence, and 4 percent reported experiencing police violence in New York City.
The Anti-Violence Project said the number of reports of police violence received tends to rise during Pride Month: In June 2019, 8.2 percent of its clients reported police violence, and in June 2020, 8.4 percent did.
Beverly Tillery, the executive director of the organization, said the N.Y.P.D.’s perceived misconduct during last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests served as another signal to Pride organizers and participants that a police presence at Pride detracts from, rather than contributes to, the safety of vulnerable individuals.
But barring L.G.B.T.Q. officers from marching is a politicized response and is hardly worthy of the important pursuit of justice for those persecuted by the police. The organizers are certainly within their rights to reduce the number of armed police officers providing security, but let’s be honest: It’s a poke in the eye at law enforcement more than a meaningful action to address police violence or foster a dialogue about law enforcement reform. These moves do nothing to celebrate and demonstrate solidarity within the L.G.B.T.Q. community.
The decision also disproportionately affects L.G.B.T.Q. police officers, many of whom have been fighting for reforms; they shouldn’t be judged, and even set back, by the worst behavior of their colleagues.
André Thomas, a co-chair of New York City Pride, said Pride didn’t previously outright ban groups from participating, though it has had discussions with groups that aren’t aligned with the movement’s values. Such groups, he said, tend not to follow through on registration.
The N.Y.P.D. will inevitably continue to play a role in this year’s Pride celebrations. Heritage of Pride, which organizes the events, said it has asked officers to stay at least a block away from all in-person events, but the department will likely have to help enforce street closures and control crowds throughout the city. Heritage of Pride said it would instead turn to private companies for security. These private groups, it should be noted, are often staffed by former and off-duty police officers.