Just ahead of Pride Month, Seattle City Councilmember Mark Solomon requested that the Seattle LGBTQ Commission, which is composed of 21 residents who serve as city advisors, speak with Seattle Pride organizers about allowing Seattle Police Department officers who are Queer to march in the parade fully uniformed. On May 15, the commission discussed this request and actions it will – or won't take – in response.

"Their reasoning behind this is that the LGBTQ police officers should have the right to basically be proud of their career and proud of their identity, and be able to celebrate that in the parade," said Commissioner Kody Allen.

Commissioner Jessa Davis said, based on conversations she's had with LGBTQIA+ community members in the past, that many would likely be uncomfortable with this. At the same time, an SPD T-shirt rather than a full uniform seems like a reasonable middle ground, she added.

"I feel like a conversation and a building of trust between pretty much every organization and the police needs to be done," another commissioner added. "I don't love that it's happening, like, a month before. I feel like the timing of that...It takes time to build trust and community and have these discussions."

Commissioners agreed that this request is an opportunity to educate Councilmember Solomon, as it seemed like he does not comprehend the historical nuances of the Queer community and police.

"My opinion is that we should remain neutral... Going for this would hurt our relationship with Seattle Pride," Allen said, adding how sending even a soft rejection letter in response to Councilmember Solomon's proposal could impact that growing relationship as well.

Davis, alongside Commissioners Ashley Ford and Brett Pepowski, asserted how they were all in strong opposition to the proposal. Pepowski brought up how there isn't much of a relationship between the commission and Councilmember Solomon to begin with, but that this could be an important stepping stone toward building trust through education. Pepowski also said that if Solomon cannot accept one rejection, then that relationship is a dud to begin with.

"We can say, 'Hey, love the passion, maybe come up with a proposal next year,'" Commissioner Jeremy Erdman said.

But Pepowski responded that a letter to Solomon stating that this proposal was too soon could come off as the commission supporting it next year.

"I don't support it for any year, and I would be surprised if any of the community members would support it either," Pepowski said.

A motion was proposed to send Councilmember Solomon a letter explaining why the idea is harmful to the LGBTQIA+ community. Four commissioners abstained, two voted in favor, and one voted against. Allen told the SGN that those abstentions were counted as no votes "due to our bylaws not specifically stating otherwise," and that the vote was considered tied. A letter will therefore not be sent to Councilmember Solomon.

"The commission is not taking an official stance on this matter at this time," Allen said.

Seattle Pride and Solomon provide statements
Seattle Pride provided the SGN with a statement regarding Councilmember Solomon's request to the commission:

"There are no changes to Seattle Pride's policy, which does not allow uniformed police officers to march in the parade and which was adopted three years ago. Police officers are permitted to volunteer to march with other City of Seattle employees, out of uniform, and with the expectation that they abide by the event's no-weapons policy.

"This decision was made based on feedback from a community survey, as well as the result of the Queer community's long history of distrust of law enforcement, criminalization of LGBTQIA2S+ people, and police violence against marginalized groups – which was the genesis of the Pride movement, and is why Pride parades around the country are held on the last Sunday in June in remembrance of the Stonewall rebellion."

Councilmember Solomon told the SGN that this conversation about allowing cops to march in the Pride Parade in uniform has been ongoing for years. His office told the SGN that he met with the Seattle LGBTQ Commission on April 29 regarding the request. He said he's talked with the mayor's office and department staff, among others, about this.

He acknowledged how LGBTQIA+ people are on the police force and that they deserve recognition, despite harmful incidents, like the police officers who conducted a "premise check" at Denny Blaine Park, a historically Queer, nude beach, and targeted a Trans woman who was cited for trespassing. That misdemeanor was later rescinded by the chief of police.

He noted how Seattle police used to march in the parade in uniform, and that reintegrating them would send a strong message to Washington, DC.

"When we have Trans officers marching in uniform in Pride, that's going to send a middle finger to the guy back east [Trump]," Solomon said. "Let's recognize that we do have officers who are... we have a rainbow of officers. We have a rainbow of perspectives, and I want to acknowledge that those are officers who are putting themselves on the line every day, should be acknowledged for who they are, and should participate with their community."

Pride started as a riot
In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, began a string of riots over police raids and brutality at the Stonewall Inn in New York City's Greenwich Village, marking the beginning of the modern Gay rights movement in the US.

Police had arrived with a warrant, and employees and patrons were being aggressively and forcibly removed from the Stonewall. But rather than running in search of safety, Queer people gathered outside of the bar, witnessing the brutality against their own. After an officer hit a Lesbian patron on the head while manhandling her into a police van, she shouted, encouraging others to respond.

Patrons and neighborhood residents started rioting, involving hundreds of people, leading to six days of violent clashes with police officers outside the bar and in the surrounding streets, including Christopher Park. Pennies, cobblestones, and bottles, among other objects, were thrown at police. During the first night of the uprising, a total of 13 people were arrested.

On the one-year anniversary of the riots, NYC's Gay community celebrated the first Pride parade.

Seattle's stark history with cops
Seattle, like many other cities, has a long-standing history of mistreatment and violence by police. The latest incident at Denny Blaine follows a string of others, including Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell responding to a neighbor complaining about Queer nudity at the beach, stating, "If you are disgusted, I share your disgust." Neighbors in the area also attempted to launch a new children's playground at the park, which would have altered the character of what many consider a sacred space.

In a shocking echo of the 1960s, Seattle police raided multiple LGBTQIA+ bars on Capitol Hill in January of 2024. Queer/Bar and The Cuff were targeted for "lewd conduct" after customers were found wearing jockstraps and a bartender had an exposed nipple.

The '60s also saw payoff scandals, whereby police would only allow Queer bars to operate if they received bribes or jobs as bouncers. Most notably, the Pink Tavern in Pioneer Square was targeted extensively.

The location of the East Precinct in the historically Queer neighborhood of Capitol Hill has always been controversial. Furthermore, in that "gayborhood," Seattle police officers gassed and shot blast balls at residents for weeks on end in 2020 during the Black Lives Matter protests, leading to short-term and long-term health issues for those who were attacked.

And there remains a string of unsolved murders of our Queer community members, including Kenji Spurgeon, who was tragically shot and killed just hours after Pride Month 2024 ended.