GOAL NEW ENGLAND’S OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO THE RHODE ISLAND PRIDE

COMMITTEE’S STATEMENT ISSUED ON 06/17/19:

On behalf of the Gay Officers Action League of New England (GOAL New England), our Board
of Directors would like to reassure all attendees of Rhode Island Pridefest 2019 and the LGBT
community of GOAL New England’s mission and focus.

As the original and only local LGBT Public Safety Support organization for all of New England,
we are inclusive and welcome all Police, Corrections, Fire, EMS, and Military Personnel. We
have greatly evolved from when we were founded 28 years ago. Our organization beginning with
just four police officers to now over 200 members throughout New England!

We consist of and function as a support group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender sworn and
civilian personnel of local, state, and federal agencies. On a daily basis we provide support to our
membership, the LGBT community, and our allies. We educate law enforcement and public
safety personnel on the LGBT community, issues and obstacles that we all face, and provide
training on how to appropriately interact with all members of the diverse communities in which
we serve.

Our organization exists to provide peer support to its members, serves as a forum for members to
share their knowledge and experience, and to discover solutions to problems faced by members,
public safety agencies, and the LGBT community.

Approximately a month ago we received a communication from the RI Pride Committee

regarding their concern with our participation in the RI Pridefest 2019 Parade. Our
communications with the RI Pride Committee have been nothing but transparent since. GOAL
New England exists to promote inclusiveness and be a resource to our members in the event they
experience adversity in their career as an LGBT public safety professional.

We are members of the LGBT community and we feel we should be able to express how proud
we are just as we want everyone to be able to. We are not and do not classify as solely a "law
enforcement contingent." We are an LGBT Public Safety Support organization.

During Saturday's Parade our membership, allies, and supporting agencies took full direction
from RI Pride Volunteers upon arrival to Pridefest and throughout the entire parade. There were
Gay  Officers  Action  League  of  New  England,  P.O.  Box  171587,  Boston,  MA  02117  
A  501(c)(3)  Federal  Tax-­‐Exempt  Organization  
www.facebook.com/NewEnglandGOAL  
      
 
no agreements or pledges to not use emergency lights throughout the parade route and not have
any personnel in uniform. We also were not provided official restrictions or stipulations on
motor vehicle contingents with noise or light display limitations in the "RI Pride's Illuminated
Night Parade."

We felt our lights supported the “RI Pride's Illuminated Night Parade” theme. We have used
them for the past several years with an always-positive reaction from the attendees of the parade.
There were also no barriers circumvented as alleged and no directives disobeyed during the
event. While in our assigned staging area for over an hour prior to the parade kick-off we were
not instructed by any volunteers to change or remove anything.

Furthermore, it was explained in thorough detail on several occasions to the RI Pride Committee
that it is customary for police vehicles in parades to have emergency lights activated. It was
explained that motorcycle officers would be uniformed and that we may have the support and
pleasure of the Warwick Police Colonel marching with us in uniform.

In past years, RI Pride has actually requested GOAL New England's members to be present and
to volunteer in assisting with security for the parade. Our members always willingly did so.

Lastly, we have learned and understand that there are some members of the LGBT community
who experience discomfort interacting with law enforcement and we empathize with these
individuals. Please be assured that GOAL New England serves as a resource to ALL. Our
mission and focus is based on promoting inclusiveness. Our hope is to bridge the gap between
the LGBT community and the public safety field, as well as to open a dialogue of inclusion and
understanding of all community partners.

Our Board of Directors will be reaching out to the RI Pride Committee with the hope to form a
bond to improve this adversity and establish collaboration.

Gay  Officers  Action  League  of  New  England,  P.O.  Box  171587,  Boston,  MA  02117  
A  501(c)(3)  Federal  Tax-­‐Exempt  Organization  
www.facebook.com/NewEnglandGOAL