Network Co-Chair Amy Tapping recounts her experience as an LGBT+ police officer in this video, made as part of the Police Uplift Programme.
If you would like to know more about the Uplift including which areas are currently recruiting and what support is available, please visit the Uplift recruitment site here.
The UK National LGBT+ Police Network is proud to launch our new role models booklet today. The booklet contains thirty diverse LGBT+ Police role models from across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and National Police organisations such as the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, British Transport Police as well as the College of Policing.
Co-Chair of the National LGBT+ Police Network PC Amy Tapping explains, “I have seen the importance of visible role models in helping others be able to bring their whole selves to work, this means those previously having hid half their life can now put all their energies into being a good police officer while they are in the workplace. This is good for the individual officer, good for the organisation and good for the victims of crime that depend on Police support. We hope this role models booklet will help to ensure our LGBT+ policing colleagues feel valued and confident to be themselves both in and out of work.”
Co-Chair of the National LGBT+ Police Network Chief Superintendent Clinton Blackburn added, “Having joined policing in an era when there were no visible LGBT+ role models it really inspired me to use my own experience to help others. Role models are incredibly important as they allow others to see that they can be themselves in policing and succeed in the workplace while doing so. We have come a long way over the last 10 years and we have further to go, having visible role models will help ensure that journey continues and we start to see policing reflect our diverse communities”.
NPCC lead for LGBT+ Deputy Chief Constable Julie Cooke said, “I am a proud ally for my LGBT+ Police colleagues. With the launch of this new LGBT+ role models booklet – we show the great diversity of people in policing who can be role models and advocates for others. This demonstrates that we are working towards much more representative and inclusive policing organisations. This is vital as it shows communities they are represented within the Police, this is a key Peelian principle, we are the public and the public are the Police.”
The role models booklet along with a letter from DCC Cooke addressed to Chief Constable’s will be circulated digitally around UK Police services for internal distribution. The booklet will be a living document which will be updated in time.
The role models booklet can also be found in The Workforce Resources section here.
Many trans people, including non-binary and gender diverse people experience bullying, abuse and harassment. Being forced to live in fear can have a detrimental effect on your wellbeing, mental and physical health.
We recognise the experiences of trans people will differ based on how they navigate the world. From race to disability, immigration status to socioeconomic background, age to gender, orientation to faith, trans people will have different experiences, sometimes better, and sometimes worse.
Prejudice and discrimination prevent many trans people, including non-binary and gender diverse people from living with dignity in all parts of their life – at home, at work or in the community.
Sadly, for trans people, including non-binary and gender diverse people, the opposite is too often true. In the face of a concerted campaign across the British media, together with the measures necessary to restrict the spread of coronavirus, many trans people now feel isolated and unsupported.
Trans people simply want to be able to exist freely and without fear, which is something that many people take for granted.- the security of living in a safe home, access to healthcare (and not just trans healthcare), the knowledge that they will be listened to and heard on what trans people need to live their lives without fear. None of that should be controversial.
The together. campaign says to trans people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, including non-binary and gender diverse people, you do deserve to be safe, and you do deserve respect – you should be able to do what most of us do without thinking.
together, we continue to build our network of organisations who will speak up and campaign for trans rights.
together, we can ensure that everyone is able to live in safety and with dignity.
The together. campaign has been drawn together by five LGBT+ organisations across the UK. Click here to find out more.
Click here for a list of the organisations which are supporting the together. campaign.
To add your organisation, please email together@consortium.lgbt stating that you support the campaign and giving permission to use your organisation’s logo, as well as including a hi-res copy of the logo to use.
There are a number of resources that you can share on social media. Click here to find out more.
Today, Stonewall, Britain’s leading lesbian, gay bi and trans equality charity, announced that 136 major UK companies have come together in a show of support for trans communities.
Aviva, BP, CITI, Disney, Expedia, Microsoft and Sky join 96 other UK employers who have added their names to a public statement to say trans rights are human rights, and highlight their support for trans colleagues, employees and customers. Each of the participating companies will also be posting messages of solidarity with trans people across their social media platforms throughout the day.
The collective of businesses from a wide range of sectors represent a growing group of leading employers who are speaking up for trans equality in the UK.
Many of these organisations (70) have also written to the Prime Minister directly to call on the UK Government to honour its commitment to protect trans people’s rights and reform the Gender Recognition Act.
Nancy Kelley, Chief Executive, Stonewall said: ‘We’re proud of all the business leaders who today are ‘coming out’ for trans equality. All these companies are sending a powerful message to trans communities that leading businesses have their backs. Across the UK, corporate leaders are speaking up because they care about protecting and supporting their trans colleagues, customers, friends and family.
‘At a time when trans rights feel increasingly under threat, the diversity of all these businesses taking part today shows there is a wealth of support for trans people at the most senior levels of British industrial and cultural life. But we can’t be complacent. If we want to live in a world where every trans person can be themselves, each of us must use our voice to challenge transphobia and take action to create more inclusive communities.’
If you or your organisation would like to support this cause, a ‘Support Pack’ can be obtained from Stonewall via the above link.
