Philly Police Department Make It Safe

In light of Philadelphia's recent and successful gay pride event this last weekend, I thought it appropriate to highlight the great strides the Philadelphia Police Department is making in the protection and safety of LGBT people. The Philly PD, led by Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey, has initiated a pro-LGBT program that will focus protection of LGBT individuals in the predominately gay neighborhood, and change the environment and "macho and homophobic" attitudes of his police department.

The gay neighborhood, or affectionately termed the "gayborhood" by the locals, is a geographical area in Philly known for its gay themed commerce and nightlife. Known by its partially rainbow street signs (among other things), the gayborhood is the area of concentration for Ramsey's initiative to protect LGBT people. As advised by his in-house counsel on LGBT affairs, Ramsey will permanently station 2 to 3 officers in the center of the gayborhood. The stationed officers are not required to identify as LGBT because as Ramsey says, "You don't have to be gay to serve the gay community, or black to serve the black community." His officers will be thoroughly trained to deal with and understand the LGBT community because over the next two to three years Ramsey will require his entire Philly PD to attend queer-sensitivity training.
The commissioner insists there is zero tolerance for any kind of discrimination in his department of 6,700. He also acknowledges that unless the culture changes, gay men and lesbians will continue to be reluctant to become police officers.

In a city where homicide rates nearly top the charts, police enrollment is steadily declining and hate crimes are "drastically" under-reported, Ramsey hopes to make a difference from the inside out.

Read More on Ramsey's Pro-Gay actions: http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080609_Making_the_police_safe_for_gay_officers.html