Hidden Prejudice !

All the opinion polls are quite clear, although the numbers vary from area to area.   The majority of Australia's residents accept that homosexuality is no longer a crime and that same sex marriage will soon become legal in Australia.    The problem is that a small, hard core of people with either religious objections or who follow a tight moral code are still bitterly opposed, and many of them are in high places where they hold positions of power.

A minority of politicians are blocking the passage of same sex marriage legislation in the parliament and being "Gay " can reduce promotion prospects in many aspects of the commercial world.  Many national companies which openly claim to have "gender equality and Gay acceptance policies "in place actually practice the reverse.

It a fact of life that attitudes change over a period of time.  In the early part of the twentieth century the Gay community remained hidden in the closet and were virtually "unmentionable ".   The  "coming out " was a traumatic period for many and it was only when Gays began to take their place in society that attitudes changed.   Today, Gays are openly serving in our armed forces.

Perhaps the last bastion of homophobia is lurking in our police force.   Many Sydney residents may remember the first Gay Mardi Gras decades ago.   The state government refused to grant it a parade license - so it was held unlawfully.   The attitude of the police was very mixed.  Some officers enthusiastically swung batons and tried to drag contestants off floats.  Many others simply stood aside and watched the parade, and took no action.

Today, Gays serve openly in the NSW police and official policy is one of complete acceptance.  Gay recruits do their training at the police academy without discrimination and the police promotion system is supposed to grant elevation purely on merit.   The police now actually enter a float in each years Gay Mardi Gras.

Disquietening evidence has emerged that Gay officers seemed to be concentrated in one inner Sydney police district and that this was subjected to an undercover investigation which was obstensively tasked with detecting the illegal use of drugs.   Gay officers claim they were singled out and they feel that this was a move by senior level officers to remove Gays from police ranks.

There has been an investigation, and as is so often the case when police investigate other police, a finding that there is "no evidence "of wrong doing has emerged.   Of course, even a rumour that Gay police are not really welcome into police ranks will do damage and cause potential Gay recruits from even thinking of joining the police force.   Whats the point - if discrimination still exists and pathways to promotion are blocked ?

One of the essentials of a free society is equal treatment by the police.   Even at a matter such as a traffic stop the attending policeman or policewoman makes a judgement.    Your explanation of what happened is either believes - or rejected.   If that person making judgement has a prejudice against Gays - that can be a decisive factor.

We will soon have a new police Commissioner.   One of his most urgent tasks will be to cleanse his senior management of homophobic views.  If personal prejudices are allowed to filter police attitudes the laws passed by parliament will not be fully implemented and Gays will remain "second class citizens "!