In August 2017 the Queensland Police Service released 'It gets better,' featuring 13 QPS officers who identified as members of the LGBTI+ community.
The video highlighted the Service's support of the LGBTI+ community, joining a global campaign of individuals and organisations pledging to uplift and empower LGBTI+ youth around the world.
It was a watershed moment that marked one of the first times officers had spoken openly about their lives as LGBTI+ QPS officers to such a wide audience.
'It gets better' received resounding community support upon its release and was viewed more than one million times across social media.
The positive reaction to 'It gets better' within both the QPS and the community led the video to be nominated for numerous awards, many of which were won including the 2018 Premier's Leadership Award (Qld).
It was apparent to members of the QPS LGBTI+ Support Network, who initiated the original video, that the success of 'It gets better' needed to be built upon to ensure the strong foundations the video had laid would continue to encourage and support LGBTI+ community members.
In late 2018 work commenced on a second video.
'One step better' builds on the 2017 video by reconnecting with three of the original participants of the first video, Detective Senior Sergeant Sasha Finney, Senior Constable Ben Bjarnesen and Constable Martina Winkworth.
All officers have remarkably different personal stories and their roles within the QPS are diverse, with Sasha leading a team of detectives responsible for taking drugs off our streets, Ben patrolling the high volume and busy night life area of Fortitude Valley while also educating his peers on LGBTI+ issues and Martina performing general duties in Deception Bay in the Moreton Bay area.
Where the original video focused on the personal journeys of officers, 'One step better' follows officers as they complete their day to day duties and demonstrates the possibilities available to LGBTI+ members of the QPS.
In the video we gain an insight into the highs and lows each of these three officers have had to face and how they managed to persevere through adversity and come out the other side.
Importantly, the video demonstrates the positive trajectory of the QPS as a diverse and accepting organisation.
It is an important reminder that the QPS reflected the community it served and up until the 1990s homosexuality was both criminalised and widely condemned throughout most sections of Queensland society.
In 2018, the Queensland Parliament expunged the criminal records of those convicted under those laws.
'One step better' demonstrates the transformation of the QPS over the past 30-years and its commitment to bridge divides and reflect the diversity of the people it protects.
While the past cannot be changed, the QPS is committed to changing the present and the future. Each of the three officers in the video illustrate this commitment.
It does get better
Senior Sergeant Finney said she hoped the new video would allow the community to see how far the Service had come since she began her career in the late 1980s.
"I chose to participate in this video because I want to help young people and other LGBTI members of the QPS to know that it's okay to be who you are," Detective Senior Sergeant Finney said.
"I hope by participating in this, I might inspire a few people to consider a career in law enforcement and know that they can do that no matter who they are."
Similarly, Constable Winkworth said she looked forward to seeing how her presence as an openly transgendered woman in the QPS would change people's perceptions of the QPS and the trans community.
"I want people to know that it's okay to be trans and that it shouldn't be a barrier in doing whatever it is you want to do in your life," Constable Winkworth said.
Senior Constable Bjarnesen said he planned to use the momentum of the next video to continue his work as a general duties officer while volunteering to help educate those within and outside the QPS on LGBTI+ issues.
"I hope this video will enhance the public perception of LGBTI+ officers and allow the community to see the positive work we do inside and outside the QPS," Senior Constable Bjarnesen said.
"The video demonstrates how our police come from all different walks of life and how officers with diverse backgrounds positively contribute to the way in which we serve the community."
It is hoped 'One step better' will inspire a new generation of future police officers to consider a career in the QPS no matter who they are or how they identify.
Most importantly all three officers hope the video will show people struggling with their identity to see that it does get better, help is always available and the QPS will support them.
You can watch the full 'one step better' video here: www.youtube.com/queenslandpolice
If anything in this article has caused distress help is available:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14 lifeline.org.au
- QLife (for LGTBTI+): 1800 184 527 qlife.org.au
- Beyondblue: 1300 24 636 beyondblue.org.au
