More than a million people filled Manhattan on Sunday for the largest annual Pride parade in North America — while LGBTQ cops turned out in droves to protest from the sidelines.
As revelers dressed in glitter, drag and other festive attire packed the streets surrounding the downtown parade route, the officers were furious that they are still barred from marching in their NYPD uniforms.
“It takes a tremendous amount on courage to be out. It takes an even more tremendous amount of courage to be out in uniform,” said NYPD Detective Brian Downey, president of the Gay Officers Action League.
But the party remained uninterrupted for the throngs of sanctioned participants as the parade snaked through Madison Square Park, down Fifth Avenue, through Greenwich Village and up Seventh Avenue — with rainbow flags and smiles flying from start to finish.
“I’m out here making sure our voices are loud and proud and heard. It’s more important now than ever,” said 30-year-old Audacity Mansfield, who wore a “Mr. Gay New Jersey” sash won at a pageant earlier this month.
“If we don’t have pride, then we don’t really have anything,” Mansfield said. “If we can’t be proud of who we are or if we can’t be proud of our community, what are we out here for?”
This year’s parade fell on the 10th anniversary of the legalization of gay marriage in the US and also commemorated the 1969 Stonewall riots — which helped spark the country’s gay-rights movement — with the theme “Rise Up: Pride in Protest.”
But one part of the queer community that was left out of the festivities for the fifth year in a row were uniformed LGBTQ NYPD officers who were told by organizers they couldn’t march in their blues.
“We will not be erased,” read signs carried by cops watching from the sidelines, along with others reading, “Let gay cops back into march,” and, “Our uniform is our protest.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch turned out to support the officers, calling the decision to bar them “unbelievable.”
“It is an absolute disgrace,” Tisch said, saying it was ironic that a parade about inclusivity is keeping people out. “These officers standing behind me who have been pillars of reform in the community for decades have been excluded and told they are not welcome to walk in the uniforms they wear.”
The ban was put in place in 2021 over ongoing anti-cop sentiment from the George Floyd protests the summer before.
Parade organizer Heritage Pride claims it doesn’t want parade-marching officers carrying weapons, which they have to have on them as part of their uniform requirements.
Scores of on-duty armed cops protect the parade-goers.
Tisch called organizers’ excuse “nonsense” and characterized it as a “publicity stunt.”
“Heritage of Pride knows full well that when officers wear their uniforms, those uniforms can be magnets,” she said. “It is about personal safety for our officers and public safety that officers don their uniforms and carry their service weapons with them.”
Downey said it was “painful” to have to protest the parade — and that queer officers are among the most courageous members of the community.
“It’s been painful for four years now,” he said. “Telling folks that they can show up not as they are is not in the spirit of pride.”
“Everyone standing behind me protests every day by going into the system that has historically was not for them. They go in and force change upon that system. They force that system to deal with that,” Downey added.
Downey — echoing others — also said it was outrageous that the parade would ask the NYPD to keep the parade safe but wouldn’t let officers march in uniform.
Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani stopped by the protest and greeted Tisch and some protesting cops — but was snubbed by at least two officers.
Mayor Eric Adams — who previously voiced support for GOAL’s push to let officers march in uniform — joined the parade but was booed at times and given the middle finger as he walked.
“Eric Adams doesn’t care about gay people!” a woman yelled, while others called him a “Trump lover” and screamed, “Mamdani for mayor.”
Despite the controversy, Sunday’s parade was the festive and positive celebration many wait all year and travel from across the world to attend.
“I’m just proud of the energy,” said paradegoer Paul Mcgrorety. “I love seeing smiles and just the pridefulness of everyone here. It’s awesome to be here.”
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