Gay Police Association
Encyclopedia
The Gay Police Association (GPA) is a British
police staff association with members in all 52 UK police forces. The GPA was founded in 1990 as LAGPA (Lesbian And Gay Police Association), and represents the needs and interests of gay and bisexual police officers and police staff in the United Kingdom
. Much of the history regarding the formation of the Association can be found in "Coming Out Of The Blue" a (1993) book by former Metropolitan police officer and founding LAGPA member Marc Burke. The Association changed its name to Gay Police Association (GPA) following a vote of its membership in 2001. Its website is currently under major reconstruction although the Association does operate a 24 hour Action Line and email facility in order to contact any of the GPA National Executive Committee. http://www.gay.police.uk
The GPA's objectives are to:
One of GPA's achievements was persuading, in 2003, most Chief Constable
s to allow gay Police Officers to march in uniform in 'Gay Pride
' marches. Traditionally, Police Officers have not been permitted to wear uniform on marches or demonstrations that might be controversial or in any way 'political', but most Chief Constable
s agreed that Pride was a legitimate celebration of LGBT life and culture and by participating in uniform, could demonstrate the diversity within modern day Police Forces. Gay policemen and women first marched in full uniform in the London Gay Pride
March on 26 July 2003. At the time, the GPA issued the following press release: "The Gay Police Association, a staff association recognised by the Metropolitan Police Service
, sought permission for officers to attend the Gay Pride march in uniform. It was decided that it would be acceptable for officers to do so, subject to some safeguards. The safeguards relate mainly to risks that may arise by having off duty officers in uniform at an event policed by officers wearing uniform. The safeguards deal with these risks". Now the police are joined by the other emergency services and members of the Armed Forces, in uniform.
attracted a record number of complaints, mainly from Christians and Christian organisations many of whom organised a campaign against the advert and urged people to complain to the ASA. The GPA agreed to withdraw the advert as a result of the findings of the Advertising Standards Authority
(ASA). The GPA advert showed a Bible
lying next to a pool of blood, accompanied by the following text: "In the last 12 months, the Gay Police Association has recorded a 74% increase in homophobic incidents, where the sole or primary motivating factor was the religious belief of the perpetrator”. Over 500 separate complaints about the advert were made, the highest number for any advert that year.
The ASA upheld three classes of complaints. First, the advert was considered to be “likely to cause offence to those readers who were Christian” and breached Clause 5.1 of the Code of Advertising Practice. Second, the advert, “by featuring spilled blood prominently, wrongly suggested that all the reported incidents involved physical injury” and breached Clause 7.1 of the Code. Third, the GPA was unable to substantiate the claims made in the advert - a further breach of the Code, this time of Clause 3.1. The ASA did not uphold the complaint that the advert implied that the Bible condoned anti-homosexual attacks or that the advert incited violence towards 'people of faith', especially Christians.
The ASA’s actions included "telling the GPA to ensure future campaigns were not presented in a way that could cause undue offence, reminding them that they should ensure the use of imagery did not send misleading messages to consumers, and asking them to ensure any statistics could be substantiated".
A statement from the GPA said that "The GPA never refused to supply any material, we made it clear to the ASA that as there was a criminal investigation underway so we could not supply the material." The ASA refused to allow more time for the GPA to supply requested material.
"ASA upholds complaints by Christians against Gay Police Association".
The Gay Police Association advert led to what the BBC described as a 'bitter row' between the Gay Police Association and the Christian Police Association.
A number of Christians attempted to have the GPA prosecuted using the rarely-used common law offence of blasphemy. An attempt by Rev George Hargreaves
to prosecute the GPA using public order legislation failed, as did an attempt to hold individual members of the GPA Executive Committee personally liable, using police discipline regulations. At the time, some critics accused the Christians who made these prosecution attempts of hypocrisy, as vocal Christians - such as Stephen Green of Christian Voice
- have been quoted in defence of freedom of speech/expression on other occasions.
The Gay Police Association's view is that verbal abuse and physical assault against gay men and women constitute criminal offences and should be reported to the police. Discrimination against gay people in the workplace is also unlawful and the GPA say all such discrimination should be reported to employers, who have a legal duty of care to prevent it.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
police staff association with members in all 52 UK police forces. The GPA was founded in 1990 as LAGPA (Lesbian And Gay Police Association), and represents the needs and interests of gay and bisexual police officers and police staff in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Much of the history regarding the formation of the Association can be found in "Coming Out Of The Blue" a (1993) book by former Metropolitan police officer and founding LAGPA member Marc Burke. The Association changed its name to Gay Police Association (GPA) following a vote of its membership in 2001. Its website is currently under major reconstruction although the Association does operate a 24 hour Action Line and email facility in order to contact any of the GPA National Executive Committee. http://www.gay.police.uk
The GPA's objectives are to:
- Promote equal opportunities for gay and bisexual men and women in the police service
- Offer advice and support to gay and bisexual men and women in the police service and
- Improve relations between the police service and the wider gay community.
One of GPA's achievements was persuading, in 2003, most Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
s to allow gay Police Officers to march in uniform in 'Gay Pride
Gay pride
LGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity...
' marches. Traditionally, Police Officers have not been permitted to wear uniform on marches or demonstrations that might be controversial or in any way 'political', but most Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
s agreed that Pride was a legitimate celebration of LGBT life and culture and by participating in uniform, could demonstrate the diversity within modern day Police Forces. Gay policemen and women first marched in full uniform in the London Gay Pride
Gay pride
LGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity...
March on 26 July 2003. At the time, the GPA issued the following press release: "The Gay Police Association, a staff association recognised by the Metropolitan Police Service
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
, sought permission for officers to attend the Gay Pride march in uniform. It was decided that it would be acceptable for officers to do so, subject to some safeguards. The safeguards relate mainly to risks that may arise by having off duty officers in uniform at an event policed by officers wearing uniform. The safeguards deal with these risks". Now the police are joined by the other emergency services and members of the Armed Forces, in uniform.
2006 advertisement controversy
In 2006, an advert by the Gay Police Association in The IndependentThe Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
attracted a record number of complaints, mainly from Christians and Christian organisations many of whom organised a campaign against the advert and urged people to complain to the ASA. The GPA agreed to withdraw the advert as a result of the findings of the Advertising Standards Authority
Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)
The Advertising Standards Authority is the self-regulatory organisation of the advertising industry in the United Kingdom. The ASA is a non-statutory organisation and so cannot interpret or enforce legislation. However, its code of advertising practice broadly reflects legislation in many instances...
(ASA). The GPA advert showed a Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
lying next to a pool of blood, accompanied by the following text: "In the last 12 months, the Gay Police Association has recorded a 74% increase in homophobic incidents, where the sole or primary motivating factor was the religious belief of the perpetrator”. Over 500 separate complaints about the advert were made, the highest number for any advert that year.
The ASA upheld three classes of complaints. First, the advert was considered to be “likely to cause offence to those readers who were Christian” and breached Clause 5.1 of the Code of Advertising Practice. Second, the advert, “by featuring spilled blood prominently, wrongly suggested that all the reported incidents involved physical injury” and breached Clause 7.1 of the Code. Third, the GPA was unable to substantiate the claims made in the advert - a further breach of the Code, this time of Clause 3.1. The ASA did not uphold the complaint that the advert implied that the Bible condoned anti-homosexual attacks or that the advert incited violence towards 'people of faith', especially Christians.
The ASA’s actions included "telling the GPA to ensure future campaigns were not presented in a way that could cause undue offence, reminding them that they should ensure the use of imagery did not send misleading messages to consumers, and asking them to ensure any statistics could be substantiated".
A statement from the GPA said that "The GPA never refused to supply any material, we made it clear to the ASA that as there was a criminal investigation underway so we could not supply the material." The ASA refused to allow more time for the GPA to supply requested material.
"ASA upholds complaints by Christians against Gay Police Association".
The Gay Police Association advert led to what the BBC described as a 'bitter row' between the Gay Police Association and the Christian Police Association.
A number of Christians attempted to have the GPA prosecuted using the rarely-used common law offence of blasphemy. An attempt by Rev George Hargreaves
George Hargreaves (politician)
James George Hargreaves , known as George Hargreaves or J. G. Hargreaves, is a religious minister, political campaigner, leader of the Christian Party , and former music producer and songwriter.-Early life:...
to prosecute the GPA using public order legislation failed, as did an attempt to hold individual members of the GPA Executive Committee personally liable, using police discipline regulations. At the time, some critics accused the Christians who made these prosecution attempts of hypocrisy, as vocal Christians - such as Stephen Green of Christian Voice
Christian Voice (UK)
Christian Voice is a Christian pressure group based in the United Kingdom. Its stated objective is "to uphold Christianity as the Faith of the United Kingdom, to be a voice for Biblical values in law and public policy, and to defend and support traditional family life." It is independent of...
- have been quoted in defence of freedom of speech/expression on other occasions.
The Gay Police Association's view is that verbal abuse and physical assault against gay men and women constitute criminal offences and should be reported to the police. Discrimination against gay people in the workplace is also unlawful and the GPA say all such discrimination should be reported to employers, who have a legal duty of care to prevent it.
Matthew Windibank Award
After one of the GPA founding members Matthew Windibank died in March 1999, an award was commissioned in his name. Windibank then commissioned Varun Mehta as the new Gay Police Association commissioner, which he happily fulfilled. The award recognises individuals and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to the progression of LGBT equality issues inside and outside the police service. Matthew Windibank committed suicide by lethal injection of insulin in a Brighton hotel after a long standing relationship broke down. He was never a Police Officer; he was employed by the police as full-time civilian race relations adviser.- 2001, National Advisory Group (NAG), for Policing Lesbian & Gay Communities
- 2002, Paul KellyPaul KellyPaul Kelly may refer to:* Paul Kelly , United States criminal and founder of the Five Points Gang* Paul Kelly , US stage and screen actor* Paul Kelly , US soul singer-songwriter...
, Chairman, Greater Manchester PoliceGreater Manchester PoliceGreater Manchester Police is the police force responsible for law enforcement within the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester in North West England...
Federation Joint Branch Board - 2003, Simon TaylorSimon TaylorSimon Taylor may refer to:*Simon Taylor , drummer for InMe*Simon Taylor , Scottish professional rugby union footballer*Simon Taylor , convict ship to Western Australia...
, Assistant Chief ConstableAssistant Chief ConstableAssistant chief constable is the third highest rank in all British territorial police forces , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and...
, Norfolk ConstabularyNorfolk ConstabularyNorfolk Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for the county of Norfolk in England. As of March 2009 the force had a strength of 1,668 police officers, 243 Special Constables, 277 PCSOs and just over 1,300 police staff.-History:... - 2004, Dave McFarlane, National Coordinator of the National Black Police Association
- 2005, Peter TatchellPeter TatchellPeter Gary Tatchell is an Australian-born British political campaigner best known for his work with LGBT social movements...
, OutRage!OutRage!OutRage! is a British LGBT rights group that was formed to fight for equal rights of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people in comparison to heterosexual people. It is a group which has at times been criticised for outing individuals who wanted to keep their homosexuality secret and for being... - 2006, Paddy TomkinsPaddy TomkinsPaddy Tomkins QPM was appointed HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland by Royal Warrant in March 2007. He was formerly the Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police, which he joined in 2002 and was succeeded by David Strang. He initially joined Sussex Police in 1979 and in 1993...
, Chief ConstableChief ConstableChief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
, Lothian and Borders PoliceLothian and Borders PoliceLothian and Borders Police is the territorial police force for the Scottish council areas of the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian...