Well, that could have been handled better. The Police Commissioner of the NYPD just said that his department doesn’t owe anyone an apology for raids on gay bars such as the one that led to the Stonewall Riots.
To be fair … nobody who currently works at the NYPD was involved with the raid in 1969. But if you’re going to be proud of your organization’s long heritage and history of achievements, you’ve got to acknowledge the bad things your predecessors did as well.
And the NYPD has certainly made those acknowledgements. “There’s no doubt denying that out of that terrible experience came so much good, that it was the tipping point,” said Commissioner Bill Bratton. “An apology, I don’t think so. I don’t think that’s necessary. The apology is all that’s occurred since then.”
Yes, it’s true, the police certainly have changed. When Bratton made that statement, there was a police vehicle parked outside that was adorned in rainbows and pride logos. When “hot cops” get identified by the gay community these days, they wear it as a badge of honor. It’s an incredible state of affairs that we’ve gone from the police raiding our bars and ruining lives to having their support.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Bratton himself was appointed as a liaison to the gay community in Boston, all the way back in the 1970s. “Times have changed and are continuing to change,” he said.
That’s putting it mildly. And yeah, it’s really nice to have the support of the police. Maybe an apology isn’t necessary after all this time, and after all that the cops have done to change their culture of antagonism to queers. Of course, even the current NYPD is criticized for all sorts of other prejudices.
But still … how hard is it to say “sorry about that”?
Zekester
American Police NEVER apologize; EVER!
Police Unions won’t even let officers make personal apologies with they want to.
Zekester
There is still a LOT of homophobia and racism in the Tampa Police Department in spite of having had a lesbian police chief.
Gigi Gee
Yesterday our police chief in Toronto apologized for the bath house raids in 1981 and people were whining that it was “too late” and “not enough.” Then I read that the NYC police commissioner thinks no apology is necessary.
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/police-apology-raids-1.3647668
sfprman
Good god, even asking for an apology, let alone expecting one, is such trifling BS. Please don’t make it a micro aggression for the NYPD not to drop everything in our to make a useless saccharine statement.
jimontp
What a disgusting comment from NYPD. Everyone knew that the Stonewall bar was run by the Mafia, and the paid off the NYPD so they could keep operating. There was dancing with two men, it was illegal. Who knows if the raid was because the bar owners didn’t pay up or some sort of intimidation by the NYPD, but for the NYPD to refuse the acknowledge what the reality was (hard to admit they were paid off by the Mafia), should make you think that if even someone like Bratten can’t admit the truth, there is really little trust between the cops and gays everywhere.
rand503
@jimontp: Not to mention that raids didn’t end with Stonewall. OR that police wouldn’t bother investigating crimes where they found the victims to be gay men. These things continued through the 80s.
joeyty
I still want the trans activists to apologize for vandalizing the Segal statues in the park outside the Stonewall.
KM201
Do the writers on this website even bother to look back on their archives? The NYPD is still harassing our community and Louis Falcone’s lawsuit is just the tip of the iceberg. Cops are not our friends, no matter how much pink washing they attempt to do.
http://www.queerty.com/gay-man-suing-nypd-claims-noise-complaint-devolved-into-antigay-beating-at-his-home-20150803
surreal33
Just like there is no need to apologize for slavery.
America, has and always will believe that gays and blacks are second class citizens therefore, not worthy of an apologize for being brutalized.
Stevenw
Erm, that pic…. That is not NYPD. Those are UK police officers. Heh, seriously, Queerty?
Mo Bro
Keep in mind that Bratton is a life-long Democrat, to boot.
Sluggo2007
Fuck the NYPD and their apology! Stonewall has pushed the gay movement light years forward. Eat that, NYPD!
ethan_hines
@Stevenw: That is not NYPD. Those are UK police officers.
Agreed! Could they not find a stock photo of the NYPD?!
Zodinsbrother
Can someone explain to me why this article is illustrated by a photo of British Metropolitan Police Officers on the platform of Westminster Tube Station. Especially when it’s a negative article about police and a couple of spaces alone are other articles about UK Met Police getting engaged at Pride.
joeyty
@Zodinsbrother: LOL. You’re talking about Queerty,the site that said Northern Ireland is Catholic. Not the most educated bunch.
He BGB
When the Atlanta Police raided and humiliated patrons at the Eagle just a few short years ago, the city had to pay, after litigation and the patrons won. Just sayin. The cops had them lying face down in the spilled rotten beer and dirt asking for ID. Pretty scary when you think it could still happen today. Police or Terrorists we still can’t party safely in peace.
He BGB
My point above that an apology would be nice and promising THAT IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN,AGAIN.
Franklin
I’d say clip pretty much sums up the mentality of America and why we don’t do apologies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDPUdsLkBqI
joeyty
@Franklin: They’re just not apologizing because they still think it was right to deface the Segal statues. Just like they apparently think it was fine to boo the speakers off the stage at the latest San Francisco Trans March.
GayEGO
Do you apologize for the way your parents treated you back in the ’40s and 50′ if they knew you liked boys? It was the culture back then which has and is changing as we learn and evolve into the 21st century.