The presence of LGBTQ officers in law enforcement has a history of controversy. As times have changed, police forces have adapted by adding LGBTQ divisions, officers and committees within their ranks to account for legislation established by governments to protect individuals who previously had little or no voice when it came to laws impacting their own communities.
Diversity and inclusion in policing
Diversity in service and the elimination of discrimination across the planet is led by many individuals, staff, associations and others within the global police community.
Inclusivity, evolution, acceptance, intersectionality, organizational values and career advancement lead to proud cops and growing acceptance.
Nevertheless, many LGBTQ individuals still face significant discrimination in the police force. In a 2013 study of British forces, Jones and Williams found that almost 20% of sexual minority officers said they experienced discrimination. At the same time, only 25% of those individuals reported the incident to a supervisor.
The following is a timeline of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) police history.
U.S.
In this year, 1969, a Washington, DC area officer transitioned and served as female officer for 12 of 32 years total.
U.S.
Alameda County (California) Sheriff's office begins recruiting gay officers, in the face of gay crime victims in San Francisco having reluctance to report the crimes against them.
U.S.
New York City mayor Ed Koch bans discrimination in police hiring on the basis of sexual orientation. This meets with resistance from the city's Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association.
San Francisco becomes the first city in America to have a recruitment drive for gay police officers, bringing in over 350 applications.
U.S.
A Sergeant of the New York City Police Department comes out as gay during a city council hearing. In 2016, a Greenwich Village street was named after him. A news story that quoted journalist Andy Humm reported:
""He gets up and says, 'I'm proud to be a New York City police officer,'" Humm said. "And thSam Ciccone, a Champion of Gay Police Officers, Dies at 71en he says, 'I'm equally proud to be gay.' And the City Hall chamber, Council chamber almost fell out."
U.S.
New York City police sergeant Charles H. Cochrane Jr. and former Fairview, New Jersey sergeant Sam Ciccone form the first group targeted at the needs of gay members of law enforcement, the Gay Officers Action League (GOAL).
U.S.
The Golden State Peace Officers Association, "an organization of gay police officers, sheriff's deputies, California Highway Patrol officers and other homosexual law enforcement personnel.", was started in 1985 and is thought to have been formed as an informal group of officers who "got together after work to drink beer and discuss the frustrations of police work. In a Spokane, Washington news article from 1987, a reporter claims the group was unofficially called "Pigs In Paradise."
United Kingdom
Gay Police Association (GPA) founded by unnamed Constable to represent the interests and needs of gay and bisexual police and staff in the United Kingdom.
U.S.
The Lesbian and Gay Police Association was initially a group of four Chicago police officers who founded the organization to support gay and closeted police officers at that time. "The LGPA is dedicated to promoting solidarity and upholding Human Rights, providing support and social interaction for its members and to promote understanding between the police and the LGBT Communities through education, communication and charitable acts."
U.S.
The Gay Officers Action League (GOAL) formed in 1995 to encourage diversity and acceptance in more departments. The first float on the 1995 GLBT parade in Chicago was the GOAL-Illinois float.
European Union
The European Gay Police Association formed to support best practises and help developing countries build internal and external capacity for service provision.
Peru
Peru announces a nationwide ban on police officers who have same-gender sexual relations, stating that the caused harm to the image of the police force.
United Kingdom
Suzette Davenport, the Chief Constable of Gloucestershire Constabulary came out on stage at the county's Pride event in 2014.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, after the disbanding of the GPA because of government austerity measures, the National LGBT Police Network was established providing support to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
United States
Two gay police officers become the first partnered couple to graduate from the Boston Police Academy together. At the time of their graduation, it was believed that the couple may have been the first openly gay couple in any major police department in the U.S.
Canada
A gay Toronto police officer sends an open letter to organizers of Pride Toronto regarding political action by Black Lives Matter in 2016's parade that demanded the organizers exclude Toronto Police Service uniformed officers and police vehicles from participating in future parade festivities.
"Police officers are significantly represented in the LGBTQ community and it would be unacceptable to alienate and discriminate against them and those who support them. They too struggled to gain a place and workplace free from discrimination and bias."
Police in Toronto establish the Youth Justice Bursary Fund headed by an LGBTQ Liaison officer who provides community policing support to Toronto Police Service LGBTQ members and community members.
Chile
Chile's first gay police officer marries in uniform.
Netherlands
The 1st annual World LGBT Conference for Criminal Justice Professionals was held in August of this year with the theme of "To Connect And Inspire".
United States
Among those injured in a Dallas, Texas sniper attack in July 2016 was a Dallas Area Rapid Transit officer. He and his former husband - himself a DART officer - worked with "Resource Center, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organization — to get same-sex partner benefits for DART a few years earlier".
Golden State Peace Officers Association
Gay Officers Action League
