LGBT police group declines honor at Philly Pride Parade

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A group representing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender police officers has declined to serve as grand marshals of Philadelphia's LGBT Pride parade.

The group that runs the June 12 parade, Philly Pride, had asked the Greater Philadelphia Gay Officer Action League to serve as grand marshals.

But a Change.org petition was started opposing the honor. Those opposed to the police group being grand marshals say the parade grew out of riots against police.

The gay officers group has since declined the honor to avoid controversy.

Members of Philly Pride say they "applaud the actions of Philly GOAL because this certainly avoided the tumult that would have resulted by the threatened actions to 'shut down' the 2016 parade."

The Liberty City Democrats and ACT-Up Philadelphia had opposed the move.

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The Gayly - 5/31/2016 @ 9:45 a.m. CDT