James I have spent a lot of time thinking about your points. I grew up in Brooklyn and went to high school in the East Village in the early 1970's. Being Irish Catholic I have spent a lifetime with NYPD family and friends. I was stealth most of my life and experienced first hand the bigotry that some of them had. So much has changed from Stonewall but I agree, not enough.

I my heart I want barriers to come down. Some times it is difficult to offer the hand of friendship and understanding to some one who bullied you in high school. At some point the better person does so.

I feel that we are the better people and allowing them to march sends the better message. There are 36,000 members on the NYPD. I would rather have a positive impact on the membership than allow the the scattered bigots have the upper hand in influencing the others.

Respectfully,

Emma