Current Affairs

Britain has its first reported genderfluid police officer

May 23 2017
Written by Josh Jackman

Britain can welcome its first reported genderfluid police officer, it has been announced.

The PC has two warrant cards, and can use either depending on which gender they identify with on any given day.

Known only as Callum or Abi, the Metropolitan Police officer served on the force for 13 years as a man.

Now the London-based officer has won the right to express their gender identity in the way they wish.

The groundbreaking step is part of a Met Police drive to encourage staff to be themselves at work.

The officer’s gender identity was revealed in an internal message to the Met’s 43,607 police and civilian staff last week, titled “Bring Your Whole Self to Work,” The Sun has reported.

They spoke about what it felt like to finally come into work as a woman, saying: “The first time I walked into a Met building as Abi, I was hyperventilating so much I almost passed out.

“I’ve done it a handful of times since, and felt so happy that I got to be me at work.”

They emphasised: “Abi is a part of me that exists and I want that part to be recognised and validated.

“But I’m still me. I’m still the same person whether I’m presenting as Callum or Abi.

“It’s the same dice.

“You’re just looking at a different number.”

Last year, a genderfluid actress made Academy Awards history by being in contention for both the male and female categories.

Kelly Mantle, best known for appearing on the sixth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, earned the honour of being considered for both awards with their role in comedy Confessions of a Womaniser.

And in February, an 11-year-old genderfluid actor was deemed eligible for awards in male and female categories in Canada’s Leo Awards.

Ameko Eks Mass Carroll entered the awards for their role in Limina, a short film that follows a gender-fluid child on a journey to kindness.

Earlier this month, Emma Watson and Millie Bobby Brown became the first recipients of the landmark gender-neutral prizes at the MTV Movie & TV Awards.

And in the weeks since, Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan has sparked controversy again and again by questioning the legitimacy of any non-binary people.

Last week, he said non-binary children were “a contagion,” and told a non-binary, trans couple that identifying as non-binary is “a massive new fad”.