Join us for two radio programs this month all about LGBT law enforcement personnel and learn about how training for police about the LGBT community is changing for the better.
Outbeat Now! – Sunday, May 23, 2010, 8PM to 9PM PST
Featuring stories about Chief Susan Jones of the Healdsburg Police Department who is retiring after 30 years on the job and about the LAPD’s move of their youth program away from the Boy Scouts of America in order to be inclusive of LGBT youth. We will also feature a live interview with cadets from the Napa Police Academy who will talk about their research project on the Transgender Community.
Outbeat Radio Comes Out From Behind The Badge, May 30, 2010 8PM to 9PM PST
This is a special one-hour show all about how LGBT law enforcement officers who are “out” on the job. We will hear from officers of all ages from around the country about their experience on the job. The show will also feature a close look at the homophobia that still exists in law enforcement and how training is changing to prevent it.
In honor of National Police Month, author Greg Miraglia has produced a very special radio program honoring the many LGBT law enforcement officers who have come out on the job and who are combating the wide spread homophobia that still exists within the law enforcement profession. Hear the stories of officers who, despite the traditional law enforcement culture, have come out and who are now role models. We will share the stories of several pioneers who came out when it was still legal to be fired for being gay as well as from some younger officers who have been out from the beginning. We will hear from the director of a local police academy about how law enforcement is changing in order to create a more comfortable work place for LGBT officers.
Listen online from anywhere in the world at www.krcb.org or if you live in the Santa Rosa, California area, tune in at 91.1 FM.
Despite the fact that acceptance of gay and lesbian people has grown greatly within our society, law enforcement as a profession is still struggling to get comfortable with gay and lesbian police officers. My belief is that the law enforcement profession is about 20 years behind the rest of society in how it views and accepts diversity within its own ranks and this is especially true for gay and lesbian employees. The proposed Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act will help protect police officers when they do come out from behind fired and support those LGBT applicants gain employment. Listen here to an interview with Officer Michael Carney about his story and struggle after coming out.
We will feature more about how LGBT law enforcement officers are becoming more visible on the job next month as we honor LGBT law enforcement professionals during National Law Enforcement Month. Check back for more details about our radio show special.
We have produced a one-hour radio show special about how LGBT law enforcement professionals are making themselves more visible within the ranks of law enforcement. Despite the prevailing homophobia, which continues to be pervasive throughout the profession, many gay and lesbian officers are tired of hiding and are coming out on the job. Some of these officers have found success while others have been fired simply for being who they are. Greg Miraglia, the host and producer of this show, talks with officers from around the country about their experience coming out. He also explores how law enforcement training is changing in order to make the work place more accepting of gay and lesbian officers.
“Outbeat Radio Comes Out From Behind The Badge” was produced exclusively for KRCB Radio of Santa Rosa and will air on Sunday, May 30, 2010 at 8PM PST. You are invited to attend a special preview and discussion about this show at 4PM on Saturday, May 15, 2010 at the A Different Light Bookstore, located at 489 Castro Street in San Francisco. This even will feature several of the officers interviewed in the show. Mr. Miraglia will also be signing copies of his book, “Coming Out From Behind The Badge.” A meet and greet will follow this event at Toad Hall.
Here’s a story about a second officer from the UC Davis Police Department who has file a suit alleging work place discrimination and harassment based on nationality and perceived sexual orientation. The first officer is openly gay and filed a suit this past February. And just 40 minutes away from UC Davis, the Roseville Police Department is being sued by three officers for work place harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Something new to law enforcement? No way. It’s just becoming more visible and gay and lesbian officers are making themselves more visible on the job. Homophobia is a problem in the vast majority of law enforcement agencies and has been present within the culture for decades. Only now are individuals standing up, coming out, and saying we’ve had enough and it’s time for a change.
Look for more from us about this topic in a special program we are premiering next month on KRCB Radio. More details to follow.
If the whole “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy isn’t ludacris enough, now the Department of Defense says that isn’t interim policy is going to include assigning higher ranking officers to investigate gays in the military and that it won’t rely stricktly on third-person information or rumors. So he’s proposing a more thorough investigation before discharge? This sounds a lot like a witch hunt… and of course the use of higher ranking officers is going to cost tax payers more money; and for what?
History is made every day in Washington DC, but it seems extra special today as the first same-sex couples become legally married. Unlike the first day of same-sex marriage in other states, Washington DC is special to me as it is the place where our Constitution rests, where the Supreme Court resides, and where the fundamental rights of all people are ultimately tested. While it is true the Supreme Court has not had the opportunity rule on marriage equality, same-sex marriages are taking place today in lower courtrooms just blocks away from the highest court in the land and that just feels really special. Take a look…
If you are new to our website, we invite you to listen to our podcasts. You can now download and listen to them directly from iTunes. We produced a series of 15 podcasts containing commentary and advice related to coming out as a member of the LGBT law enforcement community. You can access these podcasts free or charge. CLICK HERE for the iTunes link.
If you do not have iTunes, you can also listen to our podcasts on this web page. Simply click on Podcasts under categories.
