Gay Cop Barred From Pride March

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/06/07/Gay_Cop_Barred_From_Pride_March/

A gay police officer in California was told by superiors that his request to participate in the West Hollywood Gay Pride Parade was denied because it would bring "discredit" to his department.

The unidentified officer wanted to march in his uniform at this weekend's parade. However, the department responded to his request, in writing, that his participation would be a "discredit" to the force, according to TMZ.

He will file an employment discrimination complaint based on the treatment he received from his supervisor.

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. Sheeezzz. Cops have been marching in the NYC affair for decades

G.O.A.L.

And our cops can kick West Hollywood's cops collective ass.

[HardWorkingDem]

2. It's very common....

for rules and regulations regarding police officers to prohibit them from about all forms of political or public functions in uniform. Now, the part stating it would "discredit" the force is going too far in my opinion, but I could envision an administrator successfully preventing it by reiterating the political prohibition in uniform part commonly seen in rules and regulations.

And to show how broad these rules are, I would imagine a police department might even not allow an officer to do the same thing in say a 2nd Amendment rally or the like.

[BeeBee]

3. Interesting.

The article doesn't say what department he works for. I can't imagine the West Hollywood department not allowing him to participate.

[mitchtv]

4. and which metropolis does he work for?

first question

[FreeState]

6. Chino as a corrections officer

Officer Johnson was joined by his lawyer Gloria Allred in a press conference this morning. Johnson, who works as a corrections officer at a women's prison in Chino, is also a member of the Gay Peace Officers Association. When he received a letter from the LA County Sheriff's Office in May about officers marching in the LA Pride Parade, Johnson wanted to do the same. He filed a request with the State of California and his warden for permission to march in uniform but was denied by both -- in writing. From lalate news: "Allred told news that the letters are 'shocking and disturbing… that the State would consider it a discredit' to the Department of Corrections 'to participate in the parade in uniform.' "


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/07/la-pride-parade-gay-cop-s_n_872540.html

[joeybee12]

5. He's gonna win big...this is california, after all..his bosses are obviously bigots...knr

[w8liftinglady]

7. update- he can march

Prison officer can march in gay pride parade, in uniform


Prison officials have decided that participation in a gay pride parade is not on par with "entering a tavern, gambling hall, or nightclub." They also seem to be saying that participating a gay pride parade isn't a political statement.

That appears to be the takeaway, anyway, from an announcement prison officials made today in which they said that a prison guard will be allowed to wear his uniform in the annual gay pride parade in Los Angeles.

A little background: Andrew Johnson, a correctional officer at the California Institution for Women in Chino, Calif. asked and was denied permission to march in the West Hollywood gay pride parade this Sunday in his work uniform. But after he hired celebrity attorney Gloria Allred, the department abruptly changed course.

Here's what they said (we bolded the most interesting parts:

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation embraces the diversity of the people of California. CDCR understands its responsibility to ensure that its officers and staff treat all Californians equally and encourages cultural awareness of the many facets of our state's society.

CDCR did not intend to offend any segment of the population with its recent refusal to allow a correctional officer from participating in a Gay Pride Parade while wearing the department's official uniform. The decision was made solely on an interpretation of an admittedly ambiguous section of the Department Operation Manual (DOM) as it relates to unauthorized use of the CDCR uniform.

Upon review, CDCR acknowledges that the DOM is outdated and requires careful revision. Therefore, Correctional Officer Andrew Johnson will be allowed to wear the CDCR uniform in the upcoming Gay Pride Parade in Los Angeles on June 12, 2011. CDCR apologizes to Officer Johnson and any Californian who may have been offended by the original decision.

It must also be noted that while CDCR is evaluating the ambiguity of its regulations, and permitting the officer to participate in this particular event, it is not CDCR's intent to permit staff to wear the official uniform for individual off-duty events. CDCR will clarify this policy in the regulatory process.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=90535#ixzz1OdyP0RAM