Police issue apology for treatment of LGBTIQ communities

Queensland Police Service Commissioner Katarina Carroll has delivered an apology to both the LGBTIQ+ communities and past and present LGBTIQ+ QPS members for historical mistreatment.

Queensland Police Service Commissioner Katarina Carroll has delivered an apology to both the LGBTIQ+ communities and past and present LGBTIQ+ QPS members for historical mistreatment.

The landmark apology comes a year after the QPS and committee of Brisbane Pride Incorporated committed to collaborate on the historical apology.

Along with the apology, Ms Carroll also presented a written “statement of regret” to the Brisbane Pride Incorporated president Bec Johnson in front of 50 members of the LGBTIQ+ community.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll talk in front of floral tributes placed at the memorial area for the helicopter crash victims, at Broadwater Parklands opposite Seaworld. Picture Glenn Hampson

“We must acknowledge for much of its history, the Queensland Police Service inflicted profound pain upon Queensland’s LGBTIQ+ people by enforcing laws that criminalised homosexual activity between consenting adults,” Carroll said.

“To all those directly and indirectly impacted by the discrimination and prejudice from these laws, which were enforced by the QPS, I am sorry for this profound hurt and pain.

“I am also sorry to those within our own organisation who experienced discrimination and prejudice.”

The day was marked as an “important milestone in the history of the QPS,” as the Commissoner pledged the QPS would continue to build relationships between the police force and the LGBTIQ+ community. A rainbow flag was also raised at Queensland police headquarters to commemorate the day.