“Being a cop is tough, being a gay cop is tougher; being a gay cop having to remain hidden for fear of losing the profession they have chosen is not comprehendible to me” – Chief David O’Malley, Retired, Laramie, Wyoming Police Department
What is GOAL?
The Gay Officers Action League (GOAL) was formed in 1982 in New York to address the needs, issues, and concerns of gay and lesbian law enforcement personnel. Since it’s beginning GOAL New York has advocated for the rights of its members and has assisted them on matters of discrimination, harassment, and disparate treatment in the workplace.
GOALs Mission overall statement is:
The Gay Officers Action League shall:
- Support active duty and retired Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (“LGBTQ”) law enforcement officers and other personnel of recognized law enforcement institutions,
- Educate and provide sensitivity training for non-LGBTQ law enforcement officers/personnel with respect to issues of employment of LGBTQ law enforcement officers/personnel and providing services to the LGBTQ community at large, and
- Promote a positive relationship between the law enforcement community and the LGBTQ community through a variety of community services and educational forums, with an emphasis on the principles of justice, equity, and equality within the area of law enforcement.
I chose this photo as an overall representation of GOAL for a few reasons. One the photo catches your attention and immediately identifies as an LGBT organization by the rather large rainbow background. Two it shows the patch and logo of the New York chapter of GOAL which was the very first chapter to be created and fight for LGBT police officers and the LGBT community for the past 35 years. I chose to introduce you to GOAL what its about and what the organization’s mission is for the purpose of moving forward through the archive and having the general knowledge and history of the organization. GOAL aims to promote the establishment of other chapters, and has been successful in many major cities including Chicago, Philadelphia, and the New England area. GOAL strives for a high level of diversity and the inclusion of all people within the organization, not just from its members but from each respective department as a whole. GOAL provides training to all officers regardless of sexual orientation or identity in the hopes of bridging the gap between the LGBT and police communities. While the Gay Officers Action League is a positive force within the LGBTQ community, it is also instrumental in attempting to change homophobic attitudes in the workplace and in the community at large.
Since its creation 35 years ago, many cities have also joined in and created a chapter and as of right now the following chapters are up and running:
GOAL Chicago, GOAL New York, GOAL Philadelphia, GOAL Iowa, GOAL Michigan, GOAL New England, GOAL Boston, Northwest GOAL Washington State, GOAL DC, GOAL NJ, GOAL Atlanta, GOAL Illinois, GOAL Ohio
An organization like GOAL paves the way for many other LGBT police organizations to be able to come into existence and serve not just the police officers they represent but also the community. Other organizations created since the start of GOAL include: LGOPOA, Austin (Lesbian Gay Peace Officers Association), TCOPS (Transgender Community of Police and Sheriffs), Public Safety Pride Alliance Utah, Serving With Pride Canada, San Francisco Police Pride Alliance, MDGLEA (Maryland Gay Law Enforcement Association, Out to Protect
“We cannot accomplish all that we need to do without working together” – Bill Richardson
Hello Victoria.
I am new to your Archive site, via our new team assignments, and I must say- nice. Your site is impactful and professional. Any viewer is easily drawn to your site.
I noticed in your Blog 2: Identity post you commented that you will explore two different identities- identity in terms of LGBT persons and the identity in terms of police officers, and their intersectionality to one another. This differentiation seems an important foundation to your post and site. I am curious, based on your posts, do you think, or have you experienced, that these two aspects of an officers identity are valued equally by your law enforcement peers? In other words, do you peers want to “know” first, if a fellow LEO is a non-heterosexual? Or, do they accept and respect you first as an officer, then acclimate to your “identity”?
And with that, is this a public acceptance for them? That is, once you are accepted as an officer (graduated, and successfully served your street or jail time) do they shake your hand, or pat you on the back, as an officer first? Then, with either comedy, or sensitivity training obedience, publicly acknowledge your non-heterosexual identity, if at all? Is it, prove your dedication and commitment to The Blue Line first, then we may accept you? Or, is it, you are a non-heterosexual first, then maybe you can cut the mustard as an officer? In other words, and here is a distant but true consequence of today’s discriminations, how do your colleagues demonstrate which is priority for them- and, subsequently, therefore you? (ah, the bloated head of marginalization and its consequences. Someone else dictating your life priorities and functions)
I also wanted to give you kudos for your Blog 2 sharing of your coming out experience- the story of your friend getting hit by a car, your response, and the interaction it created between you and the other officer. Do you believe the other officer commented on, in his perception, your sexual orientation or identity? Or, gender? Or, do you suspect that he may have been, unknowingly, commenting on both? Just curious by similarity, as I do not fit any visually perceived stereotype, and I am a trained First Responder. And, it seems, like you, if I respond, even to a minor event, and begin handling the scene, typically I get that “deer in the headlights” facial expression, toward me not the injured, that flashes across others’ faces- accented with a quick slice of confusion. For you, in your line of work, the intensities are hugely elevated. I can only imagine the mental gymnastics you must be capable of, and be forced to enlist.
And GOAL- wow. I did not know NYC and GOAL were so in the forefront. GOAL appears to be a well-founded catalyst toward relieving some of the non-heterosexual vs. heterosexual pressures on the job. I am wondering, how prevalent is GOAL’s presence in your day-to-day duties and job? Are there advocates at your workplace? Or, peer volunteers? Is there an LGBT life history in the NYC Police Department?
Your site is intriguing. I appreciate your forward thinking in keeping the site concise and easy to navigate. I look forward to your future posts.