It’s interesting that you didn’t write anything about all the LGBTQ advocates and activists in New York City who are Black and Latino, and who are demanding that the racist NYPD be excluded from Heritage Pride events.

Ignoring their perspective and pleas demonstrates either a lack of awareness or of sincerity.

It’s also interesting that you are repeating the untruth that queer cops have been barred from Heritage of Pride events.

In point of fact, HOP offered GOAL the reasonable compromise of taking part in events as a contingent so long as they put their guns away and participate out of uniform.

GOAL refused.

They insist on marching with guns in uniform, which will accomplish nothing other than spread the pinkwashing untruth that the NYPD is cool with LGBTQ people. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The NYPD is brutal, racist, and violently anti-LGBTQ every day of the week.

GOAL does fantastic work trying to change the culture of the brutal, racist, anti-LGBTQ NYPD. Maybe years from now, something will have been accomplished.

But until then, queer people of color say they are loathe to participate in an event then honors members of the NYPD. The leading LGBTQ organizations in New York City understand that, which is why they are broadly opposing NYPD participation.

They also understand the power of propaganda, which GOAL would be inadvertently furthering by marching in uniform and sending a signal that everything is okay now.

Everything is far, far from okay, and GOAL should march in Pride out of uniform to protest of the NYPD’s racist policies and practices.

But whether they decide to protest or not, they are welcome at Pride in civilian clothes. And that’s how it has to be until something in the NYPD changes.

Queer people of color in New York City aren’t kidding. They’re telling us official NYPD representatives are not welcome until the department stops brutalizing them.

That’s sensible and reasonable. Just as sensible and reasonable as members of GOAL marching in civilian clothes standing with queer people of color instead of against them.