There is an ongoing stigma and concern for police officers in upholding masculinity and alpha behavior and attitude within their workplace and peers. While men are police officers in their job and career, there is a complex and difficulty for the to be openly and comfortable in their sexuality and who they are, both personally and professionally. It is essential to shed light on how police officers manage their homosexual orientation within their working environment and organizations. According to (Miller et al., 2003), policing profession is sexualized and gendered, and the ideals in place for police officers regarding their heterosexual masculinity social interactions and practices.
Challenges in homosexuality within law enforcement is the differential treatment that occurs towards both gay and lesbian police officers. According to (Colvin, 2019), a study done resulted in both gay men and lesbian officers having hardship and challenges to equal employment opportunities and growth and gay and lesbian minorities. Overall the workforce within law enforcement, officers are still experiencing barriers and impediments in diversity, fairness, and working representative environment for officers that are gay and lesbian (Colvin, 2019). According to (Burke, 1994), gay and lesbian officers often have to live a double life rather than a life of integration. Therefore, the continuous stress of living a different and secret life is critical and harmful to their mental health and well-being. It also interferes with their efficiency and performance at work and causes difficulty establishing longevity and fulfilling relationships in their personal lives (Burke, 1994).
The relevance of this topic to psychology is crucial because the expertise and knowledge can contribute to advocating and promoting long-lasting effectiveness within the behavior and strategies in law enforcement. It is imperative to consistently evaluate and identify best practices to encourage and facilitate data exchange and research amongst both academia and policing. This can help contribute to the gathered data analysis proper insights and knowledge that can help promote real social change and justice for gay and lesbian police officers and the LGBTQ community that is also harassed and discriminated against by law enforcement.
According (to Charles & Arndt, 2013), when it comes to the micro-aggressions in homophobia, without the institutional support in addressing the hostile environment, it can run interference and hinder one’s job, performance, and promotions satisfactions, and unemployment. The role of psychology can continue to shed light on this matter and provide tools and management of the stressors and behavior associated with homosexuality in law enforcement.
According to (Johnson et al., 2019), sexual harassment, gender micro-aggression, workplace abuse, and bullying all require integration of the homosexuality/LGBTQ within the workforce. And what would contribute to the cause is human resources and I/O psychologists to help bridge the gap in the hope of providing a safe and healthy working space. It seems “human resources management initiatives for gender equality in the workplace focus almost exclusively on white, heterosexual, cisgender women, leaving the problems of other gender, and social minorities out of the analysis”, (Johnson et al., 2019)
Overall, there will always be a stigma and discrimination toward people who are homophobic, sexism will always be present, and gender bias because of how one’s mindset and ego are. The taught behavior from generations to their children, who are now adults, continues to think this way and behave differently. Education is vital for all as it will help people of the LGBTQ, both personally and professionally, feel welcome and accepted and make them think they are not defined by who they love but are human, just like you and I. Law enforcement is not excluded from the social justice in this social change that is necessary.
According to (Bostwick, 2014), “numerous studies have demonstrated the heightened prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders among lesbian, gay, and bisexual groups compared to heterosexuals.” Therefore one’s mental health and discrimination experiences contribute to higher mental health disorders often found in minority groups require tremendous research, advocacy, education, law, and policies to be in place to help the overall population against discrimination, stigmas, and bias.
According to (American Psychological Association), a hate crime is a criminal offense against a person or motivated by the person offender's bias against one's religion, race, disability, gender identity, gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. Therefore the advocacy of a psychology's role for greater society can help adopt internal policies and practices within the state and local police departments. Adopting and enforcing federal level protections, adopting new legal protections, and enforcing existing legal protections regarding the gender and sexual biases within law enforcement. Social change can occur in social justice when we spark the conversation, educate and learn from one another, and most o all stand up for what is right and ethical to help others.
Miller SL, Forest KB, Jurik NC. Diversity in Blue(2003): Lesbian and Gay Police Officers in a Masculine Occupation. Men and Masculinities.5(4):355-385.doi:10.1177/0095399702250841
Colvin R. (2009). Shared Perceptions Among Lesbian and Gay Police Officers: Barriers and Opportunities in the Law Enforcement Work Environment. Police Quarterly.12(1):86-101. doi:10.1177/1098611108327308
Marc Burke. (1994). Homosexuality as Deviance: The Case of the Gay Police Officer, The British Journal of Criminology, Volume 34, Issue 2, Spring 1994, Pages 192–203, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.bjc.a048402
Charles MW, Arndt LMR. (2013). Gay and Lesbian-Identified Law Enforcement Officers:Intersection of Career and Sexual Identity. The Counseling Psychologist. 41(8):1153-1185. doi:10.1177/0011000012472376
American Psychological Association Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation (2009). Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association
Myers KA, Forest KB, Miller SL.(2004). Officer friendly and the tough cop:gays and lesbians navigate homophobia and policing. J Homosex. 47(1):17-37. doi: 10.1300/J082v47n01_02. PMID: 15189784.
Meyer I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological bulletin, 129(5), 674–697. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674