Gay police will march in uniform at Pride
The ban on LGBT police from Hampshire marching in uniform at Brighton Pride has been lifted.
The decision relfects a chance of heart by the Chief Constable of Hampshire Police, Paul Kernaghan.
He previously banned all of his officers from gay Pride events over concerns that the impartiality of the police might be compromised.
“The force’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Group has persuaded me that participation in the contemporary Brighton Gay Pride event is compatible with my total commitment to police impartiality,” he explained to the BBC.
“This decision helps to reinforce our corporate efforts to be seen as an employer and service of choice, whilst not compromising the essential impartiality that I see as the cornerstone of police professionalism.”
The Hampshire constabulary came 11th in Stonewall Workplace Equality Index 2007, which lists the best employers for gay people in the UK.
To qualify bosses had to demonstrate significantly higher standards of good practice in a wide range of areas.
Hampshire officers will be marching in uniform in this year’s Brighton Pride parade on August 4th.
