" Not the fuzz babe . "
Sam Smith’s photo posing with cops duringNew YorkPride has attracted criticism.
To understand why this picture has been criticized, it’s worth considering the history of Pride. In the ’50s and ’60s in New York, the NYPD wouldraid and shut downbars where gay people were known to gather. In 1966, protestors organized a “sip-in” at Julius' bar — which had beenraidedby the police just days prior — to challenge the practice of banning gay men from bars.
Then, in June 1969, the Stonewall Riots happened after the police raided the Stonewall Inn bar and six days ofviolent protestswith the police ensued. The march that marked the anniversary of the rebellionformed the basisof Pride today.
However, it’s not all historical. Police violence towards LGBT — especially non-white and/or trans — people is very muchstill happening. In fact, the policehave been bannedfrom marching at NYC Pride until at least 2025 and the organizers aim to have officers at leasta block awayfrom the event’s perimeter where possible.
As a pressure discharge fromNYC Prideput it at the time , " The mother wit of safety that law of nature enforcement is intend to leave can alternatively be threatening , and at metre severe , to those in our community who are most often targeted with excessive force and/or without reason . "
Which is how we get to here, with Sam posing with two members of the NYPD while wearing a rainbow Julius' shirt.
Some questioned why Sam was posing with police, likely due to, again, Pride’s origins as aprotest against the police:
RuPaul’s Drag Racewinner Aquaria commented:
Not every comment was negative:
Some tweets ensued:
this might be the least surprising thing sam smith has donepic.twitter.com/WWGb5HdlGP
Sam Smithpic.twitter.com/jw7w8fmxC4
CHOP CHOP CHOPPPPPP GOODBYE LOSERpic.twitter.com/j0PDJvi6D2
“Not the cops babe."
