From Gial Shister, Philadelphia Inquirer:
Making the police safe for gay officers
Philadelphia’s new police commissioner is pushing a more open attitude toward brotherly love in the city.
Within his own ranks, Charles H. Ramsey wants to make it safe for gay and lesbian officers to be out of the closet amid a macho culture that, he acknowledges, keeps most of them in hiding.
“My goal is to create an environment where officers don’t feel intimidated in any way,” Ramsey said in a recent interview. “If they want to acknowledge [their sexuality], they should feel comfortable doing it.”
In another trust-building initiative, Ramsey is considering launching a full-time unit dedicated to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community…
…
Lt. Jacqueline Daley, an “out” lesbian and special adviser to the commissioner, and Chief Inspector Jim Tiano, a 43-year veteran, are counseling Ramsey on gay initiatives. Both serve on the commissioner’s LGBT liaison committee started under John F. Timoney in 1998.
A police unit for the gay community “would be a big accomplishment for the city,” says Ralph Riviello, 39, an openly gay physician at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and a committee member. “It gives us a sense of belonging, identity, recognition.”
Philadelphia Gay News publisher Mark Segal, 57, labels it a win-win: “It would make gay cops feel secure as well as the gay community.” (full article here)
6 Comments
Cool, hopefully other cities and states will follow suit.
I watched ‘I Now/Chuck & Larry’ with Adam Sandler and Kevin James, this weekend – they were firefighters and married for the Domestic Partner Benefits — it was funny.
hostess: I love Kevin James (Adam Sandler has to have another voice besides the baby talk one for me)…I heard a favorable review of the movie just this last Sunday…not that I don’t trust the straight guy, but glad to hear a lesbian thinks it was funny.
Hmmmm, I can imagine Conservative America’s reaction to this development.
Imagine this headline on FOX News:
“Straight America Avoids City of Brotherly Love for Fear Of the Words ‘Spread’Em.”
Owe me a dollar if I’m right.
hostess: oh my!!
This is a really great initiative, it must be hard to be out in that environment.
Love this article, I am a Sgt. on a Police Department in Southern Indiana Like Lt. Daley I have never experienced any type of discrimination from my fellow workers. I am a 22 year veteran and very much respected in the community. I am very open with my co-workers and have been with the same woman for 12 years. Most everyone in the community knows my sexual orientation and there doesn’t seem to be a problem with it. I have had mothers come to me with advise about their children who are gay. I agree with Lt. Daley, it is liberating to be who you are and not phony. I get a lot of respect from others for being honest. I believe it might be harder for a male Police Officer due to the macho image of straight Officers. This sounds like a great program, I will follow up on your progress. Good Luck.
hostess: Thanks Julie, for adding your voice to this post. It’s heartening to hear a 22 year veteran of “Indiana’s Finest” that has had a similar experience to Lt. Daley. I second your stand that honesty is the best policy, and what a great example you give in being a role model for mother’s to look up to for advice about gay children. Hopefully, you, Lt. Daley and other gay and lesbian officers will feel their city’s support!
we <3 our nation’s officers.
xoxo,
mr. hotmess
http://www.hothotmess.com
hostess: I think he said something nice…what does <3 mean…wait, is that one of those smiley face things? just not typed in right?
xoxo and <3s,
Ms. Hostess
i cant help but comment. while never an officer, i dispatched for 911 at the largest center in my state, which is located at state police post 35 in michigan for 5 years. while its obvious that i’m gay, by my manners, i guess, i always kept to myself to avoid any issues. at a birthday get together one time, in a limo, a gal asked me just “what turned me on”….i simply stuttered out of fear. i’m sure the troop knew, but i just didnt know what to say. i feel ashamed that i didn’t have the nerve to speak up. i have since retired as a result of stress..but truly miss being there. it was a result of someone treating me terribly and making it clear that i simply should not be there. i still believe that, being gay, that i’m the first person you would want backing you up because if there’s anyone’s back i’m going to watch, its going to be a man and that i would “throw down” in a heartbeat for him! lol..you have to see my sense of humor there….but on your page….YES….there IS undeserved mistreatment of officers that are gay. believe me, i know, i’ve seen it, whether it be a gay or lesbian. i was quite fond of our fire marshall and i know that she suffers attitudes as well and she’s a doll….but as well as i, nothing is said, just the obvious attitude towards us. on that, take care, stay safe and vest up….donald