QPS honors the LGBTQIA+ community for IDAHOBIT Day

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) continued its journey to ensure policing is accessible to all members of the community by raising the QPS Progress Pride flag and unveiling a commemorative plaque at QPS Headquarters today. police for the International Day Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination (IDAHOBIT).

To commemorate this important day, the QPS organized a ceremony to unveil the commemorative plaque of apology and declaration of regret towards the LGBTIQ+ communities.

On 20 January 2023, former Commissioner Katarina Carroll, on behalf of QPS, issued an apology and statement of regret to the LGBTIQ+ communities and current and former LGBTIQ+ members of QPS for historic mistreatment.

Commissioner Steve Gollschewski reflected on the statement of regret and reaffirmed the QPS’s commitment to working to ensure a safe, fair and inclusive policing response for all people, regardless of their sexuality, gender identity or sex characteristics .

“It is appropriate that we have chosen today, the International LGBTQIA+ Day Against Discrimination, to commemorate the apology and statement of regret by unveiling a plaque,” ​​said Commissioner Gollschewski.

“This plaque will serve as a symbol of our recognition of the past, our continued commitment and our hope for the future as we continue to ensure that we have an inclusive police organization that provides quality service delivery to the community LGBTIQ+.

The Commissioner also raised the QPS Progress Pride flag, which was developed in collaboration with the QPS Pride Network and was first flown at Police Headquarters on IDAHOBIT in 2016.

The flag represents the diversity of the LGBTIQ+ community and now also recognizes trans and gender diverse people, First Nations and people of colour.

QPS strives to create a place where all our employees belong and feel safe, respected and supported.