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3w ago

Unarmed NYPD LGBTQ+ Officers Join NYC Pride March Under Weapons Ban

Heritage of Pride held firm on its firearms prohibition despite criticism from city leaders, prompting active negotiations with GOAL over uniformed marching rights

Gay and Lesbian Police Officers march during the Gay Pride Parade on June 30, 2019 in New York City.
NYPD officers patrol before the Pride Parade in New York City on June 30, 2019. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

Overview

  • The Gay Officers Action League marched unarmed in the 2025 Pride March as Heritage of Pride’s no-weapons rule remained in effect for a fifth consecutive year.
  • Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the ban a “PR stunt” in a June 28 letter to organizers, demanding a reversal of the policy.
  • Mayor Eric Adams publicly denounced the exclusion as contradictory to the parade’s principles of visibility and inclusivity.
  • The NYPD deployed extra officers, drones, helicopters and sanitation trucks along the 1.8-mile route despite reporting no credible threats.
  • GOAL and Heritage of Pride continue discussions on potential changes to the uniform and firearms guidelines for future events.