Police Brutality and the LGBTQ Community
and the evolving relationship between law enforcement and the community
It was Summer 2020: The call for police reform as it relates to the black community met the 5oth Anniversary of Pride. Besides a study of the topic this section will contain personal experiences members of the LGBTQ community have had with police. I have started this section out with some of my own experiences. If you have your own story you would like to share please do. All submissions are treated with total confidentiality and noted as “annonymous” (unless you don’t mind having your name attached) . Noting your age would be appreciated as a generational perspective may also come into play. You can also Private Message through our Facebook page.
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November 2025 study documents pervasive and ongoing mistreatment of LGBTQ people by law enforcement
A sweeping new review from the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law takes a hard look at 25 years of research on how LGBTQ people interact with law enforcement—and the picture it paints is deeply troubling.
Across decades of studies, the findings remain consistent: LGBTQ individuals—especially LGBTQ people of color, young people, and transgender or gender-nonconforming individuals—have long been subjected to profiling, entrapment, discrimination, harassment, and even violence at the hands of police. And despite growing visibility and legal progress, these patterns of mistreatment remain widespread today.
“Experiences of police mistreatment may discourage LGBTQ people from reporting crimes or engaging with law enforcement,” explained lead author Joshua Arrayales. “Reporting crimes is essential for accurate crime statistics, proper allocation of crime prevention resources, and support services that address the unique needs of LGBTQ survivors.”
The study underscores a crucial point: building trust between law enforcement and LGBTQ communities isn’t just a matter of fairness—it’s vital for public safety.
Startling Data on Police Harrasment and Abuse
Police officers are charged with serving and protecting the public—all of the public. Yet lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and people living with HIV have often been given good reason to be wary of whether that responsibility includes them. Police have targeted LGBT people and the places they congregate and socialize, including certain bars and parks, for unwarranted searches, arrests and raids. Some police officers have also demonstrated prejudice and hostility based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status.
Read the full Lambda Lgal story and statisitcs here
If you’ve recently been harrased, physically assulted or even sexually abused by law enforcement check the link to PRIDE LEGAL on this page.
My Own Cop Experiences
From the editor
Twice I had encounter with cops that was beyond uncomfortable when they ordered me to the the front seat of their cruiser. The first one being during my initial coming out process, when a county sheriff deputy who caught me and my boyfriend parked on a dark rural “lovers lane” road. I had my head on my buddy’s shoulder and on the verge of tears because he was leaving on a family vacation for two weeks. We were holding hands if I recall. Other than that nothing was happening. Out of nowhere this fat deputy had snuck up on us and shown his flashlight in the car and saw that. He asked questions, checked IDs and THEN asked me to join him in his cruiser. I was sitting next to him, scared as shit, and he tried to confirm my age as 15. I said no, that I was 17, he checked my ID again. He then took his gun out of his holster and laid it on the floor under his feet. He then said he needed to check pubic hair and see if I had an erection and had me pull my pants down. I remember i was so petrified there was no way i was going to get hard – but then he grabbed me and started playing with me. When i didn’t respond he finally said “well I guess there’s nothing going on here”. He said I could zip up and could go back to the car to my boyfriend. On the way out he said we could stay for awhile and he’d be down at the end of the road to make sure nobody bothered us.
I got back in the car with my boyfriend and he asked what the hell happened and that it looked really strange and asked why he was shining a flashlight the way he was. I said never mind- lets just get the hell out of here. I was so scared I think i was going into shock. On the way home I told him what had transpired and he was furious. He wanted to go back and find the cop and confront him but then we decided that would probably not end well.
June 2019 I made a trip back home to take part in their local Pride and stopped by our old house. (My ex has had a new partner of 35 years). The three of us had a drink and started chatting and that event came up in conversation. He’s in his mid 70s now but still remembered it with total clarity. His partner asked why he never related that experience. He said at first he didn’t feel comfortable and then had forgotten it until it had just come out in that conversation- almost 50 years later. That incident was back in 1970 so we are pretty certain that closeted, teenage molesting deputy had met his maker years ago.The whole experience makes me think on just how many cops are out there that are closeted but “good old boy” self deniers, causing them to be especially hard wired to be homophobic and using their authority to get what they want, when they want it.
Then there was the night in November 2016, Trump was elected. I had a run in with a redneck who yelled out his pickup window “all your faggots are gonna get yours now” as he threw a beer can at my head. I noted that to neighbors but when the local community officer said he would write up a report on it I said absolutely not. When he pushed it I only got angrier. As a gay man from the era of Stonewall I wasn’t about to have a police report on on my own safety become the subject of ridicule to an entire force of good ol boys with guns; especially when the majority of the cops themselves were Trump supporters and would have been gleeful at the incident. So, just as their homophobia is hard wired in them; based on these types of experiences so is my distrust of cops. Even though in community work I have often worked hand in hand with local police agencies, when it comes to my own protection I will never trust a cop. I’ve protected myself physically twice in the past and never though about getting police involved.
I’m sure many gay men from my generation feel the same.
A personal experience- The Editor.
age at the time: 17
current age: 73