San Francisco Mayor Will Not March in Pride Parade Due to Ban on Police Uniforms
KTVU. “However, if the Pride Board does not reverse its decision, I will join our city public safety departments that are not participating in the Pride Parade.“Let’s be very clear about who we are talking about: brave women and men who not only have the courage to put on their uniforms and go out and risk their lives every day to serve our city, but who also have the courage to do so as openly out women and men in uniform,” she added.Breed’s decision to opt out of the parade highlights a growing controversy regarding Pride events held in many major cities, where organizers have either sought to ban LGBTQ officers from marching in the parade altogether or to ban them from wearing uniforms while at Pride events.
Indianapolis adopted a policy in 2020 barring uniformed officers from all future Prides, and New York City adopted a similar ban last year.San Francisco’s particular ban was imposed in 2020 following a confrontation at the 2019 Pride Parade when police clashed with protesters who had blocked the parade to protest the involvement of both police and major corporations at Pride events.
Officers arrested several people, and community members were outraged after some of the protesters were allegedly shoved and injured by police.
Although San Francisco Pride did not take place in person in either 2020 or 2021, the policy barring police from marching in uniform remained in place, and was upheld by Pride organizers this year.
