Anyone out there?

[Samantha83]

Hi

I am currently a Police officer with NSW Police (Australia if anyone doesn't know), having been a Sgt for the past 5 years in Uniform at quite a busy station. Been in the job 18 years. Whilst the organisation outwardly says they are LGBTIQ+ friendly, have leave etc for confirmation and so on the attitude overall with a lot of the bosses is still in the dark age. Whilst I am currently out of the workplace due to PTSD, my last team had quite a few gay/lesbian people on it (which I got on with fine), however did see that attitude from others still came into play. I never let it affect any of my team (very protective of the troops), however often heard comments from senior management which were still from the dark ages. Very difficult to stand up in a rank based organization. I will clarify that if it actually affected anyone of course I would, mainly just comments etc.

In NSW at the moment there is hostility between the LGBTIQ+ community and NSW Police due to actions of a certain ex member (not a hate crime just a psychopath who murdered his ex and new boyfriend). Further cisgender female police are still overall treated fairly badly from management.

Further whilst I know plenty of gay/lesbian police (including several good friends) - I have vague knowledge of transgender Police but that's it.

Seeing if there is anyone out there who has gone through/going through/thinking of going through transition as an operational law enforcement (or other emergency services) officer.

Thanks for reading this long and hopefully this made sense

Love you all

[KathyLauren]

That is a tough environment to be in.  I was in the military (RCAF) decades ago, long before my egg cracked.  All I knew was that it was an unsafe environment.  I left before I had figured it out.  My gay older brother, also RCAF, at least knew who he was.  He got out before the brass caught on.

 

That was in the bad old days, when being LGBTQ+ was considered a security risk and cause for dishonourable discharge.  Eventually, the Canadian military realized that their policy was actually creating the security risk that they feared.  The changed the policy, and things are a lot better.  I have a transgender friend in the RCAF who is fully out, is supported by her commanding officers, and is actually employed to educate members about LGBTQ+ issues and policies.

 

Which is not to say that all is groovy.  A military (or law enforcement) career attracts rednecks and crackers for all the wrong reasons.  But at least, with a policy change at the highest levels, members can report harassment and can insist on investigations and punishment for inappropriate behaviour.

 

I was a volunteer firefighter when I came out.  Before I did so, I checked into relevant legislation.  I was relieved to find that non-discrimination was mandated by law for all volunteer service organizations like volunteer fire departments.  I gave my Chief a heads-up by phone that I would be coming out at the next department meeting, and he assured me of his support.  I got a few raised eyebrows from the members, but because of the legislation and because I respected the Chief by telling him first, nothing bad happened.  The members were either fine with me, or at least acted like they were, and learned that I could still do the job.

 

But a culture change like that has to come from the top down.  It sounds like your force has taken the first step of changing the policy on paper.  Now that has to percolate down through the highest levels of brass to the ordinary officers and ranks.  It can be a long, slow process, and may require some agitation from the bottom up to succeed.

 

I hope that your work environment is able to change to become more accepting.

[Carolyn Marie]

I was a reserve police officer in the L.A. area back in the 1980's-90's, and if I had considered coming out then, I would not have.  Attitudes have softened in the last 10 years, from what I hear, but I believe someone coming out as trans now would still face a really tough slog, even in L.A. 

 

I sympathize with your plight, @Samantha83.  My advice is to find at least one person of management rank who will support you before you come out.  In a militaristic organization, having strict rules that will be enforced, and one or more upper management who will have your back, is essential.  Otherwise, you'll be on your own to face the hostility, and that's never good.

 

(((HUGS)))

 

Carolyn Marie