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DLOs help break barriers
The annual Big Gay Out is one of the biggest events on the Diversity Liaison Officers’ calendar. The 2007 event saw a good turnout of DLOs representing every district. Matt Creamer, Project Officer Equity and Diversity at Police National Headquarters, is the DLO national coordinator. His role includes training, developing and bringing the DLOs together to help achieve the goals they’ve set for the year. “Part of that is to attend the Big Gay Out and other community events around the country,” says Matt “This year’s event is the biggest turnout we’ve had of police officers and DLO’s, with national representation.” Matt says the DLOs goals are in keeping with the Strategic Plan to 2010 – to be community representative and to engage the community. “People dealing with non-heterosexual issues are represented in every community, ethnicity and minority,” he says. “Part of our goal is to make sure the GLBTI community are coming to us with crimes that are being committed against them and crimes they see being committed, to increase reporting and make sure people aren’t afraid to call us whenever they need us.” Matt believes barriers have broken down considerably since Police attended the Big Gay Out back in 2000. “We found it quite hard to engage with the community. Now, we’re expected to be here. People love us and come and interact with us as often as they can and have a chat about their experiences with Police, good and bad. “They’re just engaging with us so much more than they were just even two or three years ago. It’s terrific. “In the future I’d like to see gay men and lesbian women not even think twice about joining an organisation like ours, not to feel intimidated or afraid to come in and disclose their sexuality.” Matt says staff volunteer to become a DLO for a wide range of reasons. “Some have had family members or staff come out to them, some of them just have an interest in making sure things are fair and right in our organisation and our community.”
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