Males identifying as “gay” have fared even worse, representing only 0.4 per cent of the average class (30 total). Between 20, recruits self-identifying as “lesbian” averaged 1.4 per cent of the average class (110 total). In 2008, the Ontario Police College began collecting data on sexual orientation of recruits. LGBTQ police officers are a small minority within policing. Worse, it ignores and may compound their negative experiences in a traditionally heterosexual, male-dominated work environment. The growing movement to exclude police can disenfranchise LGBTQ officers from their own communities. My research focuses on the workplace experiences of LGBTQ police officers who are at the centre of the debate on whether police should be allowed to participate in Pride parades. Pride parades, flag raisings and community events are a testament to the progress LGBTQ people have made in terms of their acceptance by society.īut for some LGBTQ people, Pride Month can be a challenging time. Pride Month is a celebratory fixture in many communities.
Durham Region Police celebrating Pride 2014 (via Wikimedia Commons) This article was originally published on June 24 in the Toronto Star.
