Blog | International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia 2023 – DCC Vanessa Jardine

It’s easy for the police to talk about hate crime. It’s all hypothetical and ‘just another’ crime category, isn’t it? Sadly not.

There’s no official statistics on this but I strongly suspect that almost all LGBTQ+ officers and staff, will have been a victim of hate whether in their personal life or as they make an arrest, manage a call for service or process a detainee. And its important people know this. They need to know that policing really understands the impact these crimes have and how hard it can be to speak out – because it is and I should know.

Like most LGBTQ+ people in policing reading this, I too have been a victim of homophobic hate. Even now, many years later, it’s still really hard to deal with. Hate can take many forms and can range massively in severity, but even the seemingly minor can have a lasting effect. They eat away at our self-esteem as offenders target the heart of our self-identity. And that personal impact matters.

Of course, LGBTQ+ people aren’t unique in this. People who are disabled, who hold faith-based beliefs and who are black, Asian or who are from another minority ethnic groups will have suffered too. But I’m focussing on LGBTQ-related hate as 17 May marks International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHBT). That and I’m the national lead for LGBTQ+ issues in policing.

Some people may think that hate crimes aren’t real crimes, that it’s just ‘woke’ nonsense. But they are real crimes and we’ve focused on them for many years now. They have a real impact and deserve our time to investigate on a scale proportionate to the offence.

IDAHBT highlights how – in the 21st century – LGBTQ+ people are still being targeted because of who they are and who they love. That’s not OK.

LGBTQ+ people are a reality. We exist and we deserve to be able to live our lives, just like everyone else. This isn’t’ special treatment’ – it’s the law! But how do we get people – including colleagues – to report hate crimes?

I know that reporting homo, bi or trans-phobic hate crime can be hard, especially if you’re not out. Fortunately, policing is used to this and we have a legal responsibility to keep personal information safe. There’s also lots of organisations including staff networks, who can support you every step of the way and who can explain your options. Those options can include the punishment the offender receives which can range from letters of apology and other restorative justice approaches, to lengthy jail terms for major crimes.

The charity Galop is a national policing partner. They provide helpline services for LGBTQ+ victims and survivors of abuse and violence. Their research shows that three in five LGBTQ+ people have experienced a hate crime.

Like other crimes concerning vulnerability, it’s really important that victims have someone else to turn to other than the police to report incident and get specialist support. That’s because growing global research shows that lots of minority groups – including LGBTQ+ people – have lower levels of trust and confidence in policing than people from majority groups. There’s lots of reasons for that and raising the LGBTQ+ community’s trust and confidence in policing one of my long term aims.

So remember, hate crimes are real crimes. They matter to you and they matter to policing. Please report them and encourage others to do so too.

 

Deputy Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine is the National Police Chief Council lead for LGBTQ+.

You can find out more about Vanessa in her profile here

Blog | The Power of Love – PC Paul Bloomer

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHoBiT) is a day which aims to unite our community against the hate that’s directed towards LGBT+ people. There are many tools at our disposal for fighting hate; education, raising awareness, creating empathy and understanding are powerful drivers for positive change in society. One thing that is often overlooked is love and it’s motivational power to drive positive change.

“Hate doesn’t end hate. Love ends hate.” – Andrew Garfield

A wise person once said, “Promote what you love instead of bashing what you hate”, these words are ones I choose to live by. I choose to celebrate the things I love over the hate around us.

“Love and hope can conquer hate.” – Barack Obama

I love my job, I love being a police officer, I love supporting communities to be safer, I love helping victims of crime gain access to justice, I love supporting my student officers to succeed in becoming fully fledged officers, I love my colleagues, I love my hometown Belfast. That love I feel, drives me. It pushes me on, when hatred gets me down. Love for those things doesn’t mean that I don’t want them to change. It means I want the best for them, I want my police service, my colleagues and my home to be the very best they can be.

I haven’t always drawn on love and there have been times when the hatred I see in the world gets on top of me and I bite back in anger. Especially when I see hate directed towards vulnerable people and communities. Hate must be opposed, there is no place for hate, but in my experience meeting hate with anger can create even more harm. Anger as a motivator isn’t sustainable, it burns you out after a while. Using love as your motivator sustains and empowers you, it can empower and inspire others around you to act. Anger can alienate those around you and make allies harder to find. No one achieves anything alone, allies are key to achieving anything.

I’ve found drawing on those positive emotions has given me greater resilience and proven much more productive than drawing on negative emotions like anger.

“The price of hating other human beings is loving yourself less.” – Eldridge Cleaver

Going forward, I’m going to continue to let the love I have for my community, my colleagues and the place I live in drive me. There’s no place for hate in my life. Love always wins.

 

Written by Police Constable Paul Bloomer, Co-Chair of the Police Service NI LGBT+ Network, Regional Representative and National Comms Lead.

You can find more information about PC Bloomer in the ‘Our Role Models’ area here

Blog | Lesbian Visibility Week 2022 – DS Tracy O’Hara QPM

My name is Tracy O’Hara and I am a Detective Sergeant in Merseyside Police.

I am in my 26th year as a Police officer, 21 of those have seen me working within investigations and the majority of my career has been spent covering Liverpool.

You may start reading this and think what does Lesbian visibility week have to do with being in the Police? Why don’t you just get on with your job and stop talking about LGBTQ+ matters? My answer to those questions is this. When I joined Merseyside Police 26 years ago I needed to see other people like me in this job. I needed to know there was a place for me, that I could be me and be a good officer. But I couldn’t. I was different. I was not me and I didn’t perform as well as I could because of who I am and who I loved. There were no role models, there wasn’t any visibility.

I had wanted to be a Detective since I first watched Cagney and Lacey. (google them) and when I became a Police officer it meant everything to me. But to then feel I could not be me. In fact worse than that to be surrounded by homophobia it was not good. I considered leaving the job. 2001, I came to a crossroads. But then, thankfully, a trusted friend told me to stay, they told me to change the police from within, seek out the LGBT+ network and stay.

I did just that.

And once I felt able to be me, my life and my career changed for the better.

The LGBTQ+ network gave me role models, a chance to see others achieving and I knew I could thrive and I did. I remember vividly one of my Detective Inspector talking about her wife and I knew it would all be okay. Thank you Mary

So, I made the decision to be visible, to be a voice for change, to ensure LGBTQ+ voices were heard within the Police service. As a result of being authentic, I started to be a better Police officer and my career went from strength to strength. Because I wasn’t hiding or fretting or looking over my shoulder when I was out anymore.

I have always worked in areas of Policing which I am passionate about. I have always worked in roles where I can support those who need it and bring to justice those who break the law. Once I could be me, once I could be open, once I didn’t have to watch my language, did I say we not I, did I say she, once that was no longer a worry – well, I flourished. And that is why being a Lesbian has something to do with being in the Police. Because I do a better job, I perform better at my role when I can be me within my teams. They know that, I know that. I can join in with conversations, I can encourage questions and we can all learn together.

But being visible goes further than this, especially right here in April 2022. The world is often difficult as an LGBTQ+ person so for Merseyside communities to see me in this role hopefully reassures them that LGBTQ+ people have a place and a voice in their Police service.

I want to be the person, the younger generations see in the Police and know that being Lesbian, (or Bisexual, Queer or Trans) or whoever is not a blocker to doing the job you love. If you cannot see it, do you feel you can actually be it? I am not so sure – and this is why I am visible. Not only for this week, for always.

By being who I truly am, a proud Lesbian, Police officer I have achieved things beyond my wildest dreams. Police Officer of the year. Queens Police medal. International police officer of the year. Became a Detective. Became a Sergeant. And I still have many years to go, so long will it continue.

 

Written by Detective Sergeant Tracy O’Hara QPM, European Representative for the National LGBT+ Police Network.

You can find more information about DS O’Hara in the ‘Our Leaders’ area here.

Blog | LGBT History Month 2022 – PC Al Smith

I grew up in rural Devon during the introduction of Section 28 and remember the anti-gay tabloid headlines very well. I realised I was gay when I was 11 and was bullied throughout my time at school for being different. Unsurprisingly, I didn’t feel able to ‘come out’ until I’d escaped to university. I was very fortunate my family were supportive of me at the time and have always continued to be so.

I followed in my father’s footsteps and joined the police in 1998 – it was a way of helping others and enjoying a varied, challenging career. I ended up joining West Midlands Police because it was one of the few forces at the time that included sexual orientation in its equal opportunity statement. At the time I identified as a gay woman and I wanted to know the force would have my back if I was bullied again for being me.

My self-awareness has developed since I joined the police and I now identify as trans, non-binary and describe my sexuality as pansexual. I started my transition almost 15 years ago, back in 2007, at the age of 35. I started with private top surgery to deal with my greatest source of gender dysphoria. I told myself I was unsure about starting cross-sex hormones because it would limit my opportunities to compete in sport. However, I very quickly realised I wasn’t being honest with myself and I definitely wanted to start hormones and assess if they would help my wellbeing going forward. Getting access to them proved to be very difficult because I made no secret of the fact I identified as non-binary. The local endocrinologist I saw said I didn’t fit the prescribing criteria and suggested I obtain some steroids from the gym where I trained – an interesting demonstration of his ‘duty of care’ to me! Also not the most sensible suggestion to someone he knew was a serving Police Officer, was he trying to jeopardise my career and my health… I then endured two years of travelling up to Sheffield Gender Identity Clinic every three months to have the same conversation over and over again. The lead clinician was cautious about providing hormones in case I changed my mind – despite the fact I was ecstatic with how much better I felt after the top surgery. However, one visit I struck lucky and saw a locum doctor who was prepared to write me a prescription and I’ve never looked back. Transitioning is by far the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. I think I’m extremely fortunate to transition when I did as my initial transition only took two years. The current waiting time for just a first appointment at a GIC is anywhere between 3 to 51/2 years, which is a very long time to be left in limbo.

I’m currently the trans lead for the National LGBT+ Police Network. I helped shape the 2012 PACE guidance on searching trans detainees according to their lived gender, as well as the recently revised guidance on searching by trans and non-binary colleagues. Progress has been much slower than I thought it would be, but a long period of austerity has meant the service’s priorities have been focused elsewhere. The Police Uplift Programme offers a great opportunity for the service to introduce ‘best practice’ recruiting processes across all 43 forces of England & Wales. Historically, the service has expected each force to deliver LGBT+ equality and inclusion through using third party, equality frameworks such as Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index.  I think the next step is to coordinate improvements by creating a nationally owned LGBT+ action plan, as exists for Race and Gender for example. Through collaborating with partners and the wider LGBT+ community we can transparently demonstrate and communicate progress, which will help build trust and confidence and deliver improved LGBT+ inclusion in the service we offer the public and career we offer colleagues.

In my day job I’m currently a Force Intelligence Officer, a role I’ve thoroughly enjoyed for over 15 years. I describe my job as supporting my colleagues to work smarter to deliver proactive policing. Every day offers a new challenge, needing me to be creative and a problem solver. I’ve worked with teams tackling organised crime groups involved in drug supply and the use of firearms, high risk sex offenders, as well as assisting in those investigating live kidnaps, as well as domestic and child murders. I’m currently part of our Serious & Organised Crime Unit tackling violent gangs who exploit others, for instance through county lines drug dealing. I count myself as being extremely fortunate in being able to truly be the very best I can be, in a job I absolutely love!

My advice to any LGB&T+ individual living through what feels like a trans version of S.28 is don’t waste your time and energy on the haters. Focus on what you can control and enjoying your life – life is much more enjoyable if you do this! Connect with like-minded people, be that LGBT+ role models or anyone whose values and actions you admire. Help support each other in whatever your seeking to achieve. We’re all stronger together J

Written by PC Al Smith, West Midlands Police Intelligence Officer & Trans Lead for the National LGBT+ Police Network

Blog | LGBT History Month 2022 – PC Adrian Tyson

My career in Cumbria police started in 1997 as a crime inputter before joining as a police officer in 1999 (seems a lifetime ago). I’d been surrounded by the police environment all of my life with my dad having been a police officer and I was lucky to work with him for the last 2 years of his policing career.

A couple of weeks before I went for my police interview I was on a night out with some friends in a local nightclub when two lads who I knew from secondary school approached me, they continued with their hate insults which I had been subjected to throughout school and started to assault me, resulting in me having a dislocated jaw. As I left in an ambulance to go to the hospital I saw my dad and his shift running to what I later found out was a report of a male being assaulted, ME. a couple of weeks later I went off to police headquarters for my weekend assessment centre, my confidence had been destroyed and I was asked to go back and try again.  All I could think about was how two individuals had ruined my chance of a career in the police because of their hate for someone who was gay. The thing was, I wasn’t open about my sexuality back then so they didn’t know anything but had made assumptions. I went back to another assessment centre and was offered a job as a police officer.

The start to my career wasn’t the best and when I look back I can see how the canteen culture and microaggressions against the LGBT+ community were there, it was like my school days.  I did think about leaving the police to stop people talking about me and questioning my sexuality but that little voice was saying to me “Tys, be yourself”, I told a close work colleague and lifelong friend that I was gay and it went from there.

23 years later in my career and  I’m now the Chair of the Cumbria Police Pride Network, it gives me so much personal satisfaction and pride in being the person who supports their colleagues, representing the force as someone who stands up and is proud to talk about being gay in the police.  People still ask “why do you need to keep going on about it, everyone is equal aren’t they”, my response is, if we don’t talk about things, if we don’t recognise what has previously taken place, good and bad, then the underrepresented could be at risk of being silenced and forgotten.

Being able to be your authentic self, both in the workplace and in home life makes that person happy, safe and valued. I hope anyone reading this can see that we all have our different journeys in life, I hope others don’t have to experience the verbal abuse and the violent assaults like I did,  all because someone takes it upon themselves to show their hatred and in a lot of cases, lack of understanding.  This is why I do what I do, to make sure that person is heard and the community is safe. I have been lucky to have met some amazing people, some of you will have already read their blogs,  they are inspirational and kind people.

I guess what I could have said in a few words is, be kind, be yourself and remember we are always here for you.

Written by Police Constable Adrian Tyson, Cumbria Police Pride Network Chair

Blog | LGBT History Month 2022 – PC Steph Lawrence

This is the first blog I’ve shared about me. As usual I wasn’t going to take part, but then I felt inspired by others on our national team to do so. Bizarrely I actually feel quite nervous doing this.

Starting Out:

From a very young age I knew I was different, I preferred the company and activities of boys, I couldn’t really identify with other girls and their interests. I preferred to wear trousers and jeans and resented being made to wear skirts, or look girly. I wanted to be who I really was and express myself in a way in which I felt truly comfortable with. This mindset has never changed over the years and remains a core part of my identity.

I became aware that I had same sex attraction in my early teens and started to become interested in other girls. I had an older gay brother, 5 years my senior, so being around LGBT+ people when I was growing up was pretty much the norm. That exposure and support from people of difference helped me to become and realise the person I am today. I wouldn’t say it was a foregone conclusion, I did try a couple of relationships with men, both of whom I still remain in contact with today, but following on from this I knew for sure this wasn’t who I really was, and that’s okay.

I am a 70’s baby, so growing up and schooling took place during the 1980’s. This was a very trying era, particularly for LGBT+ youth, the discrimination of that time was beyond terrible. Everywhere you looked there was homophobia and wider discrimination. Limited rights and lack of equality on many different fronts, politicians and religious leaders declaring that we were not to be seen as normal, discussed or promoted in any way. Regrettably the police played a hand in this also, not part of the Peelian Principles, or policing by consent model we know now – we must own this! Generally it was an ugly, depressing time to grow up in and our gay men often took the greatest hit. Section 28 came into law during my late secondary school years. This caused huge damage to many young people, however that discrimination caused a fire in me which has been burning ever since. I simply won’t put up with this type of nonsense, I’m very much like Teflon to it and I really have seen and heard it all before, on repeat. We simply won’t be erased, we belong too!

Fast forward to recent times: 

Contrary to popular perception [Inserts Laughter] I’ve only had a few relationships with women, I’m generally very outgoing, but when it came to women I was rather nervous and unsure of myself. Sadly two out of three of those relationships were an absolute disaster and I was ‘cheated’ on, or lied to. This left me feeling undeserving of finding anyone remotely decent and knocked my confidence significantly. I resorted to throwing all my energy into work and my beloved dog as a trusted companion, at one stage distancing myself from any relationships for almost a decade!

This was the only time in my life I wished I wasn’t gay and that I could change it. Good news, I did eventually find my soul mate and we have been happily together for ten years. We share our own home in a beautiful part of the south west and we are bringing up our ‘fur daughter’ (a re-homed miniature schnauzer) who’s completely adorable and crazy.

Career-wise I’m now in my 16th year of policing. I was open about my sexuality from the very moment I joined. I remain unsure to this day whether or not that was initially a good thing, but then I could never be someone that I’m not. I have always championed LGBT+ equality in various organisations and took an active role in staff support associations. I am the chair of our internal LGBT+ Network (supported by a sergeant and PCSO as vice chairs) and I’m also the deputy chair of our regional LGBT+ Network, it keeps me busy and grounded. I currently work as a Hate Crime coordinator in my constabulary, I literally live, sleep and breathe what I do.

Being ‘out’ and championing these issues can really take its toll and can become quite tiring, particularly when you’re up against cynicism, criticism and toxicity, almost as though you’re making a fuss over nothing and looking for preferential treatment. [See social media for examples]. This of course is not the case and most people tend to champion this work with lived/ally experience and a genuine desire to improve the lives of others.

A part of me wishes I could just carry on and not have to keep talking about my sexual orientation at work, realistically we should already be there, but if we stop, I tend to see LGBT+ inclusion going backwards. I simply cannot allow that to happen, for the most obvious of reasons. I feel inspired every single day by my national colleagues, there is a real bravery in being ‘out’, not everyone agrees with our identities and the way in which we promote inclusion. We have some wonderful people who really do go the extra mile to ensure policing is as representative and supportive of LGBT+ people as it can be, I make up a very small part of this much larger effort.

I know and fully understand the importance of seeing visible LGBT+ role models in society and within policing, that’s why I do it. Every single day I work hard and strive to be the person I wish I had to turn to when I first joined the police. I offer a genuine, supportive hand of friendship to those who struggle to be themselves, want support over a wide range of different issues, and endeavour to lead/advise my organisation in the right way when it comes to LGBT+ , and/or other equality matters. This in turn should hopefully improve our service to the public. Let’s face it, if we can’t look after each other, what hope have we got to even begin to look after wider society and keep them safe from harm.

My sincere wish is that I am making a difference to people. I am so very proud to serve the public, but even prouder to serve them as an openly gay female police officer.

Steph. 💙

 

Written by Police Constable Steph Lawrence, Gloucestershire Police LGBT+ Network Chair

Blog | LGBT History Month 2022 – PC Amy Tapping

At school I knew I wasn’t like the others; I didn’t want a boyfriend, I loved playing sports and climbing trees, I was awesome on a bucking bronco! My mother getting me to wear a dress always resulted in an argument and me sulking for the day – it didn’t stop me riding the bucking bronco either.

I hated having to wear a skirt to school, I also knew that if I said I liked girls it would have resulted in bullying and a much more unpleasant time for me. Going to college I remember there being an LGBT+ awareness event, but I was worried that if I was seen there people would say stuff so I just popped my head in for 5 minutes just so I could see what it was like; at that point the female speaker was being challenged for wearing a tie so I decided it was best for me to leave.

University gave me the opportunity to be myself, I naturally became part of the group that identified as LGBT+, suddenly I felt I’d found my people. I could be me without worrying. My confidence in myself grew in all aspects. Although having just found girls the academic part of my life didn’t go so well.

The impact of the rainbow flag, however small, became really important to me. It meant the pub or club I went to was a safe space. I could hold the hand of my girlfriend without fear or feeling uncomfortable. All the toilets were effectively gender neutral – no one cared and as usual there was always a queue at the ladies. When one of the pubs I went to brought in gender neutral toilets (20 years ago) it wasn’t a big thing, people just went to the loo.

On joining the police I chose not to talk about my partner when I went to my first posting, but I soon realised no one really cared. I joined the LGBT+ Network in Thames Valley Police but never really got involved. On transferring to Northumbria Police to live with my girlfriend, I put my name forward to be part of the LGBT+ Network, but it soon closed down as it wasn’t seen as necessary.

I was asked to assist with Northumbria’s participation at Northern Pride. This led me to feel there was a need for a staff support association and network especially after attending a National LGBT+ Police meeting which encouraged a need for a local LGBT+ police network. I formed a small committee, the first year there were only four of us. I was Chair and moved on to have a Co-chair of different gender identity. The Network has grown and supported the founding of other staff associations within the organisation.

I moved on to the Regional Representative position, attending the quarterly National Network meetings and at the end of my predecessors term as Co-Chair, I put myself forward and was elected National Co-Chair. I had always been passionate that policing does not support LGBT+ victims of domestic violence adequately and having been banging this drum for a while, with the support of an Australian colleague who had also felt the same, I launched LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Awareness Day on 28th May 2021 in the UK.

I was recently a finalist as positive LGBT+ Role Model in the National Diversity Awards, it was an amazing evening meeting so many fantastic people. The event invigorated and inspired me as I have so much more I want to achieve to make a difference for LGBT+ staff, officers and victims of crime. I’ll start with gender neutral toilets!

Written by Police Constable Amy Tapping, Co-Chair of the National LGBT+ Police Network.

You can find more information about PC Tapping in the ‘Our Leaders’ area here.

Blog | The moment it all changed for me – PC Paul Bloomer

I joined the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2010, and at the same time joined the Gay Police Association NI, (GPA). I went to few meetings, and in 2014 took a spot on the committee, mainly because no one else would. I never felt like the association was out to drive change or that it was truly inclusive, there were no women on the committee, no Bi people, no trans or non-binary people, it was more like a luncheon club for gay men. Meetings were held in people’s houses not in Police stations, there was a feeling of cynicism regarding what the association could achieve. I knew that it had once stood for something but the people who had been passionate about driving positive change had all either burned out or left. There were still good people in the GPA-NI but motivation and energy was so low. The UK National GPA collapsed in 2014, after years of poor management. However, the GPA in Northern Ireland limped on.

I remember a flurry of emails coming in throughout 2015 about forming a new UK wide network of Police LGBT+ staff associations. I never engaged, “what’s the point”, I thought. I was cajoled into attending the launch of the new network in Manchester on the 28th August 2015, it coincided with Manchester Pride, “at least I’ll get to see my mates in Manchester” I was thinking.

I remember turning up at the conference venue, the first thing I saw was a Police car done up in a Rainbow livery, I had never seen this before and I thought it was wonderful. I got inside and the venue was bedecked in Rainbow flags and Sillitoe tartan, there were Police from all across the country. I got talking to those officers and I could feel the passion and excitement in them about their jobs and staff networks, I had never seen Police officers like this before. I’ll never forget meeting Inspector Jacqui Prest, her energy and passion about Police being in Pride and the power of staff networks to support and empower people completely captured me. She handed me a set of rainbow epaulettes, which now are in the Police Museum at PSNI Headquarters. I had never seen items of Rainbow Police uniform before, I was blown away. I listened to speeches throughout the day, hearing the care and passion from people like Tracy O’Hara, talk about supporting and empowering LGBT+ officers and staff. At the front of the stage were massive letters spelling out ‘POLICE WITH PRIDE’. I started to get an idea what was going on elsewhere, I heard stories about how empowered LGBT+ officers were making a difference in their organisations, how they were driving positive change for staff inside policing and delivering better outcomes for their communities. I saw people who were not just ‘ok’ with being ‘out at work’ but were positively beaming with empowerment and passion for their jobs, serving our communities with pride. I heard talks about how being your authentic self in work empowered people, and that empowered people who were supported in their workplaces were less likely to suffer from stress, less likely to go sick and more likely to perform better. Later that day there was a break, representatives from LGBT+ charities and community groups were there, I talked to them about how they were engaging with Police, which was totally different to what we were doing. One of the community members saw the rainbow epaulettes I had been clutching and told me how they loved seeing Police wear them, and how seeing Police make that gesture made them feel safer around police. I left the conference, my head was buzzing, racing with thoughts. I felt everything from excitement and empowerment to regret and shame at my own cynicism.

The following day we met at the same venue, this time we were going to march in Manchester Pride in uniform. We had obtained permission from our Deputy Chief Constable to do so, but at the time it never dawned on me the significance of it, we would be the first ever Police Service of Northern Ireland officers to march in a Pride Parade in uniform. As we paraded through the city, people were cheering their Police. I had never experienced anything like this, I’ve been spat on, beaten, abused and demeaned while wearing police uniform but never celebrated or cheered. A saw a woman in the crowd toward the end of the march, she locked eyes with me and started to cry. I went over and spoke to her, she told me her story, she was from Northern Ireland, she had left because she had been rejected by her family for being a Lesbian and felt that she could never be herself in NI, as it was too hostile for LGBT+ people. She told me that she grew up in a Police family, but none of her family had anything to do with her because of her sexuality. She came to Manchester looking for acceptance and community. She told me seeing the green PSNI uniform in a pride parade affected her deeply and made her feel that some positive change was possible at home, that maybe people like us were accepted.

That conference, the parade and the interaction with that person profoundly changed me. A fire had been lit inside me that still burns today. I felt empowered and transformed. My whole perception of what my uniform meant to me shifted from it being just ‘work clothes’ to being something truly special and meaningful. I had an energy and passion that wasn’t there before. I knew if I wanted there to be positive change back home, the first thing that had to change was me. I wanted my colleagues to feel the empowerment and pride I did. The two other colleagues that were with me were also greatly energised by the experience, however both left the police through retirement within a couple of years.

In the seven years since that fateful weekend, I have worked hard along with others, like my amazing Co-Chair Beth, to help bring about positive change in my own Police Service. We reformed the GPA, which had 38 members into a modern inclusive LGBT+ staff network with now over 500 members, many of whom are allies, I’m so proud more of my colleagues are able to be their authentic selves at work. The PSNI now marches in Pride in uniform, every year, as part of our regular business. Recruitment from LGBT+ people has dramatically increased. We were once a Police Service where you were told to, conform, assimilate, “be the grey man” and “dry your eyes”. We are now an organisation with a people strategy which states, “Our ambition is greater than being representative alone; it extends to being an inclusive organisation where everyone feels welcome, are treated with dignity and valued as their authentic selves, and are confident to share their perspectives and ideas.” I’m so proud of the progress we’ve made in Police Service NI and as a staff network. I’m proud to have played a small part in it. I’ll never forget, that journey started with being handed a set of rainbow epaulettes in Manchester. I’ve come a long way since then, I’ve changed a lot.

I will continue to walk in Pride. I will continue to be visible as an empowered Queer Police officer to show everyone that you can be LGBTQIA+ in the Police and that being different isn’t a curse, it’s a gift. I do it to show our community and other marginalised communities that society’s institutions like the Police belong to them, as much as they do to any other section of society and that we as LGBT+ people have every right to take our place in those institutions, because institutions that are representative and reflective do a better job serving and protecting all those in society. I’ll continue do it because somewhere, there is a young person who hates themselves because they are struggling with their sexuality or gender identity. To anyone like that who is reading this please know, you are who you are meant to be, there is nothing wrong with you. Let no one else define who you are. Let no one put you down. The best thing in life you can be is the truest version of your authentic self. Being true to yourself makes you shine and when you shine, that light can be a guide for others to follow. You are meant to be seen, you are meant to celebrated. Be proud of who you are.

 

Written by Police Constable Paul Bloomer, Co-Chair of the Police Service NI LGBT+ Network, Regional Representative and National Comms Lead.

You can find more information about PC Bloomer in the ‘Our Role Models’ area here

Blog | LGBT History Month 2022 – DCC Vanessa Jardine

If you had told me 27 years ago when I joined the police that one day I would be writing about being gay, I would have recoiled in horror.

I was always a tomboy, one of my earliest memories is playing football with my best friend, me in my beloved Manchester City kit and Brian in his Manchester United kit. If we weren’t playing football we were racing around on our bikes. At that time in primary school I was every bit as good as the boys and wanted to play on the boys football team, (nothing like a girls team existed then). I realised how separate the sexes were when my teacher said I could only continue to play football if I played netball for her team. Well netball was rubbish in my eyes, what kind of game was it where when you get the ball you had to stand still? I then went to an all girls school which took me away from football and this was not easy at all.

I always knew I was different to many of my friends but didn’t know what to do to be my true self. There was little on television at that time, no internet to research and I felt very alone for a long time. Throughout university I didn’t let myself ‘go’ and struggled to be myself which meant I was unhappy for a lot of the time. I did eventually meet someone during a summer job who I talked to about the way I felt and we started to go out into the gay village in Manchester, but I was painfully shy.

When I started in the police I met someone and started a relationship. I now recognise that it was extremely cruel when this person said that we could not continue seeing each other unless I came out to my parents. It’s strange what you will do sometimes but I did what she asked. I can remember the occasion like it was yesterday, my mum was pegging the washing out when I told her. The first thing she said was ‘is it something that me and your dad have done’. Fast forward and my parents have been the most supportive understanding people you could ever wish for. It wasn’t something they expected as they had never known any gay people. Now they come to Pride to support me marching in uniform, love all my friends and couldn’t be prouder.

I spent a long time being so far in the closet I was practically out of the other side. I would look longingly at people in the police who were out and could be themselves. Now all that has changed, I try every single day to make the police service as inclusive a place that it can possibly be. Everyone should be able to be their true selves at work. They deserve to be relaxed, happy and feel confident being themselves. People need to be kind, not judge and recognise that people love in different ways. It can feel like I have to ‘come out’ nearly every day in one way or another and that can be exhausting. It’s very important though that those of us that do feel we can be out, that we make every day a day where someone else can be their true selves. People deserve to be happy and together we can make a difference.

 

Written by Deputy Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine, NPCC Lead for LGBT+

You can find more information about DCC Jardine in the NPCC Portfolio area here.

Blog | LGBT History Month 2022 – PS Louise Beale

I am in the final few months of my full time role as General Secretary of the Scottish LGBTI Police Association, a full time role within Police Scotland. I have been a police officer for just over 15 years, starting my policing career in West Yorkshire Police and very much in the closet. It was challenging to hide who I was, and without a doubt played a part in feelings of isolation and difficulties in the start of my policing career.

In 2012 I transferred from Leeds to West Lothian, Scotland. Moving from a large multi-cultural city to an economically depressed old mining town, this was a shock to the system to say the least. It also presented an opportunity for me to be my authentic self. From then on, I was, for the most part “out” at work.

It wasn’t until 2018 that I had any involvement with the then Gay Police Association, where after I was nominated by a colleague (and not present at the vote) I was elected “The Women’s Rep”. This was in no small part because, the GPA didn’t have any female representation. At all. I went to a couple of committee meetings but didn’t really have any idea what was going on.

In 2019 through a mixture of lack of alternatives, my current position and timing, I took on the General Secretary role. It was never in my plan of things to do, or career aspirations, so much so, initially I turned down the role. It wasn’t “policing” and what on earth did I know about running a Diversity Staff Association? It wasn’t that long ago I was issuing tickets to drunk people in Bathgate for peeing in the street…

I clearly remember being sat in meetings with very senior officers, not a clue what any of them were talking about, no idea how to write a suitable Briefing Paper and a total sense of horror at the mammoth task ahead of me. Where to even start?

With the exception of 2 people the entire exec committee had quit. I felt a massive sense of responsibility to make things better, if I could, bit by bit and one day at a time. It was often a thankless task and felt not dissimilar, to hitting my head off a brick wall. Frequently. This role has without doubt been the steepest learning curve I have ever had, testing me in ways I never thought possible.

Upon reflection, there have been many successes over the past two and a bit years, although not always apparent at the time. The Association now has a full committee, divisional reps in nearly every geographical division in Scotland; an increase of almost 700% in membership. The introduction of Gender Neutral Hats in Police Scotland, is probably the most visible change, and something we worked on for a long time. Other less visible but perhaps more impactful developments have included the launching of the UK policing’s first LGBT+ reverse mentoring scheme, and putting on a series of events, activities and conferences.

The most important measure of success however has been the legacy. The team that has been built, the stories that have been heard, and the positive changes that have taken place. The Association has gone from strength to strength and I fully expect this to continue under the new General Secretary. Diversity Staff Associations/Networks are an often under-appreciated and under-utilised resource within Policing, if you are reading this and have a network within your force area why not reach out and get in touch? You might be surprised at what you can get involved in and what positive change you can effect in your force. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey.

 

Written by Police Sergeant Louise Beale, General Secretary of the Scottish LGBTI Police Association.