Uniformed Toronto police officers will not participate in this year’s pride parade, but they’ve been invited to march – badge and all – in New York City’s event.

In a formal letter sent to the Toronto Police Service by the Gay Officers Action League of New York, the organization asks permission for Toronto officers to march alongside uniformed officers in the New York City Pride March.

The march is scheduled for June 25 – the same day as Toronto’s Pride Parade.

Chief Mark Saunders announced in February that the service would step away from this year’s parade after demands made by Black Lives Matter- Toronto at last year’s parade sparked a lengthy debate about police participation.

The demands were later supported by Pride Toronto members who voted in favour of excluding uniformed officer during the Annual General Meeting.

At the time, Saunders said the decision to withdraw from the parade was made in an effort to allow the service and LGBTQ communities to address their differences.

The president of the Gay Officers Action League said his organization has been monitoring the developments between Pride Toronto and the Toronto Police Service “pretty closely.”

He called the invitation “one of inclusivity.”

“If Toronto officers would like to march proudly as openly LGBTQ criminal justice professionals and they feel that it’s important to identify both as an officer and a member of the community, then we welcome them with open arms,” Downey told CP24 via phone Monday afternoon.

Downey said the Gay Officers Action League works in conjunction with police agencies in New York and Jersey City to help educate and train police recruits on LGBTQ issues.

He acknowledged that the relationship between LGBTQ people and NYPD is “by no means perfect,” but said that collaboration between the two on events like the Pride March has helped them reconcile.

“We as LGBTQ criminal justice professionals have a responsibility to bridge that divide and we work rather tirelessly on our own time, on a volunteer basis to make this happen. We understand and are hyperconscious of a divide not just with the LGBTQ community, but with other communities,” he said.

“I think it’s important to recognize the courage of our transgender police officers and criminal justice professionals, and gay and lesbian people who come into these organizations and institutions with the hope of affecting change, which we celebrate 35 years this year. We’ve made significant advances…the lines of communication are open and we will continue to do so.”

Downey said he hasn’t yet received a response from the Toronto Police Service but that individual officers have approached them about participating in the NYC march.

“We always invite the other criminal justice professional organizations from other jurisdictions,” he said. “We have an open invite to participate with us every year.”

Pride director rejects calls to cut city funding

Earlier this month, Pride Toronto’s executive director, Olivia Nuamah, faced members of the city’s Economic Development Committee where she asked them to reject recent calls to cut city funding for the event.

The meeting came on the heels of a motion proposed by Coun. John Campbell which asked his fellow councillors to consider withholding Pride Toronto’s annual $260,000 grant until the organization can reaffirm “their value of inclusivity” and reconsider police participation in the parade.

At the meeting, Nuamah said officers and “their allies” could march in the parade so long as they do so without weapons, uniforms and vehicles.

Toronto Mayor John Tory condemned the motion, calling the Pride Parade a “hugely important event” for the city.

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of giving Pride Toronto its funding after hearing from Nuamah, among others.

The final decision will be made at a meeting of city council later this month.