NYPD Commissioner Tisch doubles down against Pride March ban on gay cops in uniform: ‘PR stunt’

Police commissioner Jessica Tisch doubled in his criticisms of the decision of the pride march on Saturday to ban the NYPD gay officers’ league of gay officers to participate in the annual event in New York.

In a strongly formulated letter to the event organizer, Heritage of Pride, calling the group’s hypocrites, Tisch demanded that he change his position on the exclusion of officers from the celebration procession. The high cop criticized the new reason given not to let the gay officers walk – namely that it would violate the policy of non -army of the event – calling it a “public relations” and “not a solution”.

“It is also the peak of hypocrisy to request the security and protection of thousands of armed police officers and in uniform for the walk on Sunday, then to prohibit this event the same officers who proudly represent your community,” said Tisch in the letter.

“In a year when LGBTQ + rights are as a seat in a way that we had thought behind, it’s time to stand together, not to struggle,” added Tisch. “In that day, I urge you to reconsider your decision here. Whatever the ultimate result. “

Heritage of Pride, about two weeks ago, informed the NYPD, including the Gay Offices Action League, or objective, that it continued its ban for the fourth consecutive year against the authorization of the police to walk.

“Although NYPD remains a partner in surveillance and the fight against security threats, NYPD’s response must be called only when it is absolutely necessary”, an internal note from Heritage of Pride States. “In addition, the directives for our walk have been updated to clarify that no participating contingent could walk with weapons.”

Friday, Tisch said that she was shocked by the decision, given to previous dialogue, she and Det. Brian Downey, president of Goal, had had an official Heritage of Pride.

Hop spokesperson Chris Piedmont stressed that the organization had a non-Arme policy, to what objective would not agree. However, NYPD officers are required to have their service weapons on them while they are in uniform “in matters of public and personal security”, according to the letter from Tisch.

“To be clear,” said Piedmont at the Daily News on Friday: “The objective is welcome to March without arms like all the other contingents and we invite them to join us while we are walking to protect young Trans, defend full equality and keep us at the proud of the attacks with which our community is confronted.”

The march begins at 11 a.m. on Sunday and short 1.8 miles, from the fifth avenue and the 25th St. to eighth street, then dates back to the seventh avenue and W. 14th St.

The prohibition was announced for the first time in 2021, when the demonstrations against the murder of the minnesota George Floyd man by police generated a wave of anti-cop feelings across the country, including in New York. But it is also rooted in the trauma that many members of the LGBTQ community have known in the police for years – to return to the Stonewall Riot of 1969, which was launched by a police raid at the now famous Greenwich Village. Stonewall demonstrations that followed are considered to be the birth of the modern homosexual rights movement.

Originally published: June 28, 2025 at 5:47 p.m. HAE