I am of two minds on the issue of government employees wearing uniforms at pride events.
On the one hand, I can understand how if you are LGBT and love your job, you might want to share that publicly. It would also increase visibility of LGBT people in various occupations and could even help humanize groups like the police. I also can understand the argument that government employees participate in all sorts of public events and parades while wearing their uniforms, so why should this be any different.
On the other hand, I am of the opinion that when you are wear a uniform, you are representing your organization in an official capacity. As a society, we grant a great deal of authority to those in uniforms because there is a shared understanding that they are there to do an important job. As odd as it sounds, I feel that showing too much of the “person” wearing the uniform weakens the authority of and respect for the uniform as an institution.
We would probably be better off if government employees just did not wear uniforms while participating in any public event, unless it is specifically an event for that organization.
My position is this...
Who/what you are is your business.. whether gay or straight, christian or muslim or jew, democrat or republican, etc..etc.. and it needs to remain YOUR business.. its no one elses..
If we had Jewish Pride month and a bunch of FBI agents showed up wearing kippahs, tallit, and bekishe with FBI printed in big letters across the back, the public would lose their minds.. if we had a parade dedicated to straight white middle aged males and the FBI showed up in support just wearing typical daily "agent wear".. people would lose their minds..
But this is acceptable? because its LBTGQ+?
I genuinely could not care one iota if an 1811 (federal agent) of any agency is gay or straight, old or young, white or black, is a practicing shinto or an atheist.. or anything else..
but all of that belongs at home.. not on the job..
the minute you put your badge and gun on your belt in plain view and walk outdoors you are no longer representing a segment of the population.. you represent ALL of the people..
No different than a soldier.. I dont particularly want the 82nd Airborne showing up in uniform to support a Gay Pride parade either..
If members of that division want to go run around the street wearing rainbow flags and shouting about how Palestine should be free on their down time.. while NOT wearing their uniform... thats their business (although their command might have a problem with the palestine thing)..