Gay Pc's 'shadows of homophobia'

By Ruth Clegg
BBC News

Pc Mark Carter has dealt with homophobic incidents

The brutal homophobic attack on Pc James Parkes outside a popular gay bar in Liverpool sent waves of disgust throughout the country.

A pack of up to 20 people apparently targeted the 22-year-old because of his sexuality, leaving him with multiple skull fractures, a fractured eye socket and a broken cheekbone.

When Pc Mark Carter of the West Yorkshire police force read about the gruesome attack it triggered strong emotions.

As an openly gay policeman and the winner of Mr Gay UK 2006, he has also experienced hate crime.

"I was so angry when I read about this horrific attack, it shows that the shadows of homophobia are still there, under the surface of society."

'Everyone accepted me'

Pc Carter told people about his sexuality in 2005.

Within a year, he was holding the Mr Gay UK trophy surrounded by supporters, family, friends and fellow police officers and their wives.

"When I held that trophy in the air it was the most amazing feeling, for those few minutes there was just this extraordinary relief.

"Everyone in that room accepted me."

Pc Mark Carter said attitudes towards homosexuality are improving

But this has not always been the case.

"I have been to many incidents where I have had people just stopping, looking me up and down and shouting, 'You're that gay bobby aren't you?'."

Home Office research suggests that one in five lesbian and gay people experienced a hate crime in the last three years.

Even Pc Carter admits he has not always reported being targeted.

He attended a domestic violence situation not long after he came out, and was surrounded by a mob as he and a colleague got out of the police car.

"Amidst the cries from the crowds, I could hear the shouts of 'queer' and 'faggot'.

He contemplated taking action but said there were so many in the crowd it could have turned nasty.

"I didn't want to call for back-up and put other officers in danger because I didn't like the insults they were throwing at me.

"But deep down I knew it was wrong."

Arrested abusers

Yet, during the next job, when he attended the site of a stolen, abandoned car, he was approached by a member of the public who thanked him for publicising the fact he was gay.

"He shook my hand, looked me in the eye and said thank-you, and that meant a lot."

A couple of years later, while on a train with one of his best friends, he arrested two men hurling homophobic and racist abuse to his fellow passengers.

Even though he was off-duty, he chased after one of them and pinned him down.

"I had been down to Brighton, had had a lovely break and then I had to tackle these two idiots.

"One tried to run off so I ran after him, it must have looked pretty ridiculous, there I was sprinting down the platform wearing cut off jeans, a vest and a pair of flip flops."

Mr Parkes was leaving Superstar Boudoir when he was attacked

Pc Carter said, since he joined the police force five years ago, he had seen people's attitude to homosexuality change for the better and attacks like the one against Pc Parkes were becoming less and less frequent.

He expressed the importance of educating young people when they are at school and talking to them about sexuality, so they can understand and accept people from all walks of life.

"Times have changed, people's opinions are moving in a positive direction - these people should pat themselves on the back and encourage others to do the same.

"My thoughts are with the partner and family of my fellow officer Pc Parkes and I am sure the investigating team will be doing all they can to bring his attackers to justice.

"It is not about pushing the 'gay' word up people's noses - it is about standing up for what is right."

Toby Whitehouse, station manager of Gaydio, a radio station for the gay community, agreed: "We've come a long way in combating homophobic hate crime in this country, which is why it comes as such a shock when we continue to hear about attacks on individuals such as James Parkes.

"The incident has knocked the LGB (lesbian, gay and bi-sexual) community for six.

"But we mustn't live in fear - we all need to shout a clear message that we will no longer accept attacks made on individuals because of their sexual identity.

"The community - and that's all of us - must come together and stand as one against such intolerable incidents."

Candlelit vigils to honour victims of hate crime are taking place in Liverpool and London over the weekend.