Gay policemen

GOAL wants to participate in the March while wearing their full police uniforms, which means carrying concealed firearms. Heritage of Pride, the nonprofit that organizes NYC Pride, says that goes against the weapon policy for the Pride March and offered a compromise — letting GOAL march in uniform but without carrying their service weapons.

Gay Officers Action League to protest NYC Pride March over uniform disagreement

Downey said GOAL policemen participated in the March in the early '80s, then when the NYPD formally recognized the group in the mid '90s, they began proudly marching in uniform. At the time, GOAL's vice president called the move "shameful. Saturday, Gay wrote a letter addressed to the Heritage of Pride co-chairssaying letting GOAL members march in uniform but not letting them carry their firearms is "not a solution," but "a PR stunt.

Featured Local Savings. More from CBS News. High humidity and chance of severe storms around NYC area today. Chrome Safari Continue. Be the first to know. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.