Gay police officers facing ‘faith-based homophobia’
-10/01/06
Gay police officers are facing increasing ìfaith-based homophobiaî reports the Times newspaper.
A helpline set up for them indicates a rise in homophobic bullying and harassment from other officers.
The Gay Police Association (GPA) reports that there has been a 75 per cent increase in calls on its 24-hour action line and gives warning of a rise in ìfaith-based homophobiaî from Christian and Muslim officers.
Vic Codling, the national co-ordinator of the GPA, writes in the latest edition of Police Review that there were 14 cases last year involving homophobia based on religion.
The cases included officers who had refused to work with gay officers or were withdrawn from groups discussing equality within forces.
Mr Codling said that police managers were unsure of what action to take. He pointed to the Christian Police Association which, he said, as a condition of membership ruled out habitual homosexual activity without repentance.
A spokesman for the Christian Police Association told the magazine: ìIt is certainly not a condition of membership and we do not ask anyone their sexual orientation when they apply.î
Their website however states that “to make a lasting impact on society, Christians need to demonstrate their adherence to biblical ethics”. This, for many conservative Christians, implies opposition to homosexuality.
Gay police officers are facing increasing ‘faith-based homophobia’ reports the Times newspaper.
A helpline set up for them indicates a rise in homophobic bullying and harassment from other officers.
The Gay Police Association (GPA) reports that there has been a 75 per cent increase in calls on its 24-hour action line and gives warning of a rise in ‘faith-based homophobia’ from Christian and Muslim officers.
Vic Codling, the national co-ordinator of the GPA, writes in the latest edition of Police Review that there were 14 cases last year involving homophobia based on religion.
The cases included officers who had refused to work with gay officers or were withdrawn from groups discussing equality within forces.
Mr Codling said that police managers were unsure of what action to take. He pointed to the Christian Police Association which, he said, as a condition of membership ruled out habitual homosexual activity without repentance.
A spokesman for the Christian Police Association told the magazine: ‘It is certainly not a condition of membership and we do not ask anyone their sexual orientation when they apply.’
Their website however states that “to make a lasting impact on society, Christians need to demonstrate their adherence to biblical ethics”. This, for many conservative Christians, implies opposition to homosexuality.