The National Park Service has rolled out another new twist on its policy about uniformed employees marching in Pride parades, announcing that its cadre of regional directors will decide how the agency’s roughly 20,000 employees can participate in events celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in June.
“Regional directors will determine the level and nature of NPS participation, considering operational and budgetary factors,” NPS said in an unsigned statement released by the agency’s Office of Public Affairs on Friday evening.
The announcement would appear to clear the way for NPS employees to wear their uniforms in Pride parades in their local communities, although it made no mention of uniforms.
The issue sparked a wave of controversy in May, when NPS Deputy Director Frank Lands sent a memo to employees telling them they would no longer be allowed to wear their uniforms at outside events, which a separate message made clear included Pride.
