National Geographic

Less than 24 hours after hiring lawyer/shark Gloria Allred, an openly gay California corrections officer has been granted permission to participate in a gay pride parade.

In May, officer Johnson, who is a member of the Gay Peace Officers Association, made a written request to march in uniform with other gay law enforcement. But, according to Allred, his request was denied by Warden Guillermo G. Garcia. Johnson was told that his participation in the parade would be against California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's operation manual which prohibits employees wearing uniforms who might be engaged in "inappropriate" activities or activities that would "bring discredit" to the department. Allred said it was "shocking and disturbing" that a branch of the state of California would consider marching in the West Hollywood parade a "discredit" to the CDCR. In response, the CDCR issued a statement reversing Warden Garcia's decision and allowed officer Johnson to wear his uniform.

An openly gay police officer from an unidentified California city was reportedly told by his superiors that he would discredit their department if he were to march in a gay pride parade. TMZ reports:

Gloria Allred is repping the California officer, who made a written request to march in uniform with other gay law enforcement officers and citizens. Allred says the Department responded IN WRITING that the march would be a "discredit" to the cop shop. Yes, in writing -- stuuuuupid. Allred will hold a news conference Tuesday at 11 AM PDT in her L.A. office and the cop will appear. We're told the cop will announce he's filing an employment discrimination complaint against the department based on sexual orientation ... though Allred won't reveal which department she's targeting until she takes the mic.

Los Angeles cop Sgt. Ronald Crump has won a $1M judgment in a lawsuit filed against the LAPD because of retaliation he suffered after complaining about anti-gay mistreatment by a superior.

Sgt. Ronald Crump sued the city last year, alleging that his direct supervisor at the Los Angeles Police Department Media Relations Section -- Lt. John Romero -- made derogatory remarks about his homosexuality. Romero, who has since been promoted to captain, allegedly described him as "the new Ruby minus the heels," in reference to the woman he replaced in the unit. On another occasion, Romero allegedly told him, "I was a religion major at Liberty University. Jerry Falwell would roll over in his grave if he knew I had hired you."

Openly gay Springfield, Massachusetts cop Mike Carney appeared on local television with his It Gets Better message. Carney has been an occasional JMG tipster!