Philadelphia police officers, some wearing masks, confronted and attacked members of the LGBTQ+ community gathered in the Gayborhood during Pride celebrations on June 7. Other officers deployed Tasers, while mounted officers and motorcycle units pushed community members into areas already confined by fencing erected by the city itself. Much of what occurred was captured on video and is readily available on social media.
The police response was, at best, unprepared. At worst, some officers appeared completely out of control.
The actions of a number of officers discredited their own department and undermined years of work by the Police Commissioner and many dedicated officers who have worked hard to build trust with the LGBTQ+ community. In a single afternoon, some of that trust was damaged.
To those officers whose actions crossed the line: Shame on you. You must be held accountable.
Now for the good news.
Mayor Cherelle Parker responded quickly by assigning her Director of LGBTQ Affairs, Tito Valdes, to review what happened and begin discussions between police leadership and community leaders. The goal is simple: open communication and begin repairing the damage caused by the disrespectful and, in some cases, excessive actions of certain officers.
To the Commissioner’s credit, he has pledged to identify any officer who violated department policies, ethics, or regulations and hold them accountable.
The question now is: How did this happen?
Earlier this year, Philly Pride 365 announced it would move its major Pride celebration to the Parkway because of concerns about crowd size and safety in the Gayborhood. With that move went much of the event planning expertise, security coordination, crowd management, and infrastructure necessary to safely handle large gatherings.
Unfortunately, no coordinated effort emerged to replace those safeguards in the Gayborhood. Instead, a private business organized a large outdoor dance event in a parking lot. Other businesses had permits to close off some streets, but not the main ones. Combined with fenced-off streets and thousands of attendees, the area became increasingly congested. When police attempted to clear the crowd, a tense situation quickly escalated into chaos.
We all want Pride to be joyful, vibrant and welcoming. But we cannot allow profit and an unprepared police department to take precedence over public safety. Nor can we accept a police response that lacks sensitivity to our community and an understanding of what Pride represents.
The reality is that the Philadelphia Police Department still has work to do when it comes to LGBTQ+ relations. Ask LGBTQ+ officers themselves whether they always feel accepted and supported by fellow officers. There is an LGBTQ+ police organization, GOAL, whose members have long advocated for greater understanding and inclusion within the department. If LGBTQ+ officers do not always feel fully secure within their own ranks, how can the broader community be expected to feel secure?
The solution is not complicated: the department must earn back the trust of both the LGBTQ+ community and its LGBTQ+ officers. Those officers should be empowered to help educate colleagues on issues important to our community and to help shape policies affecting LGBTQ+ residents.
Imagine if LGBTQ+ officers had been part of the command structure that day, working directly with LGBTQ+ leaders, businesses and neighborhood organizations. The outcome might have been very different.
I know community leaders are willing to work toward solutions. I believe the Police Commissioner now understands that a problem exists. The next step is his.
Perhaps it is time to establish an LGBTQ+ advisory task force composed of community leaders and LGBTQ+ police officers. Such a group could provide guidance, improve communication and help ensure that future Pride celebrations are both safe and respectful.
Pride should never end with members of our community fearing those sworn to protect them.
We can do better. And we must.