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It’s a good day. By striving for a high level of diversity and the inclusion of all people within the organization, we stimulate intellectual growth and self-awareness of our members. We hope that it’s a safe day for everybody involved,” Downey added.
While officers were banned from marching in their uniforms with their service weapons, the NYPD had a truck showcasing officers in uniform holding Pride flags all along 5th Avenue and in front of Stonewall Inn.
Tisch, meanwhile, says she has the GOAL officers’ back.
In doing so we aim to motivate our members to achieve a higher degree of efficiency in the discharge of their duties as law enforcement and criminal justice professionals.
While the Gay Officers Action League is a positive force within the LGBTQ community, it is also instrumental in attempting to change homophobic attitudes in the workplace and in the community at large.
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We had some conversations that ultimately were not meaningful. Although it has been several years, Tisch told amNewYork that she felt she needed to speak out on the exclusion.
“The Heritage of Pride has once again decided to exclude our gay officers from actually participating in their parade today,” Tisch said.
We provide a safe environment for a group of people who have been and continue to be, victims of harassment and discrimination in the workplace. We hope that this march today is a successful symbol of protest as it always is.
“GOAL, the Gay Officers Action League, asked for an exception to our weapon policy so their members could march in their full dress uniforms – which includes the concealed carry of their firearm,” a Heritage of Pride spokesperson said.
In an interview with amNewYork, NYPD Chief of Department John Chell called the exclusion disgraceful. Since its founding as a fraternal organization, GOAL has advocated for the rights of its members and has assisted them on matters of discrimination, harassment, and disparate treatment in the workplace. This was the first year when things were being revisited, that we felt that there was genuine, meaningful conversations.
But in the meantime, for the millions of people around here celebrating pride, it’s a nice day. GOAL was founded by Charles Henry "Charlie" Cochrane, Jr. (August 5, 1943–May 5, 2008) a sergeant of the New York City Police Department, who after delivering a public testimony on anti-gay discrimination legislation pending before the New York City Council, became the first openly gay officer of the NYPD.
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“They have been fighting for reform in policing for decades, and it is my pleasure and my honor to stand with them as they seek to be included in a march that celebrates visibility and inclusivity,” the top cop said.
Detective Brian Downey, President of the Gay Officers Action League New York, said that he feels Pride is about inclusion and not feeling ashamed of who one is or what one does for a living.
“For me, it was the most liberating experience that I ever had in my life when I got to stand up and tell society that I’m here and I’m working inside the system,” Downey said.
“A march that ironically celebrates inclusivity, visibility and these officers standing behind me, who have been pillars of police reform in the community for decades have been excluded and told that they are not welcome to march in the uniform that they wear, plain and simple.”
The parade organizers say they left GOAL out of the march because they do not want officers to carry weapons along the route.
We have absolutely no ill will towards New York City Pride.
GOAL furthers its mission by providing training at the NY Police Academy and Jersey City Police Department, among others.
Our organization provides an arena for members to discuss their needs and concerns in a comfortable atmosphere without fear of job-related reprisals. “Hopefully next year we’re having a different conversation.
About Us
The Gay Officers Action League (GOAL), is a first-of-its-kind organization that was formed in 1982 to address the needs, issues, and concerns of gay and lesbian law enforcement personnel and has since expanded to a nonprofit tax-exempt civil rights organization.
“Our membership voted this year to continue our policy for all marchers without any exceptions for GOAL or other organizations.”
Cops are pushing back against this, arguing that law enforcement officers assigned to protect elected officials who participated in Sunday’s march have concealed guns with them anyway.
“The last few years, we stayed silent.
We also serve as a bridge between the law enforcement community and The LGBTQ Community at large.
We are the first organization of its type in the world whose objectives are to promote the establishment of other chapters, throughout the United States and around the world.