Ohio Lesbian Gay Police Association – 3 Members Strong!!!

My cell phone rang and I recognized the phone exchange as being from a Cleveland-Westside neighborhood, but I didn’t recognize the number. I answered with a safe “Hello?” and a female voice replied: “Is this correct number for the O.L.G.P.A.?” I have to admit that it’s been a while since anyone has called my number asking for the O.L.G.P.A., even though the number is listed in a weekly gay newspaper called the Gay People’s Chronicle which is distributed throughout the state of Ohio. The acronym stands for the Ohio Lesbian Gay Police Association and in all actuality it means the three brave souls on the Cleveland Police Department who are willing to keep the phone on and the web page active in case we are ever truly wanted.

As much as I was hoping that it was a real, live, call offering or asking for help; the call was from a Chronicle employee, verifying  that the organization still existed and that the contact information was up to date. The sad truth in the state of Ohio however is that a gay organization for police is desperately needed and, maybe for the very same reasons that this is the case, seemingly impossible to get off the ground.
I joined the police department in 1990 and, shortly after, began secretly scouring the Internet for an organization of gay police officers operating in my area. I discovered that if such a thing existed it was indeed, like myself, deeply closeted and I could not find it out. I gave up on the idea until many years later after I had been married and was getting divorced.
My then wife had threatened to out me to my job and I decided that the only way to disarm her was to out myself. I kicked the closet door open with guns blazing and was certain that in this new millennia there must by now certainly be some support of some kind out their and I was going to find it!
Psyche! Not only did I find that there was still no such thing in Cleveland but the attempt at getting a statewide GOAL (Gay Officers Action League) office in Columbus had gone bust some years before. I heard rumors that there was something in Cincinnati but a lot of good that would do me huh?
Shortly after busting out, I began to discover why it simply “wasn’t done.” Even though I had attained the considerably high rank of Lieutenant, I was involuntarily transferred to the city’s most notoriously “tough” district; an overtly punitive action on the city’s part but not one that I was protected from in the labor contract. My good reputation as a hard hitting, fearless, straight (pardon the pun) shooting, cop and fair supervisor was quickly forgotten, as I became the punch line to every gay joke as the infamous gay lieutenant.
In time, I rebuilt my reputation amongst those with whom I worked directly winning their trust and admiration. The “Fighting Fourth District” became a proud new home for me and what was intended as a punishment grew to become a blessing. Slowly, one by one, lesbians and gay men would come to trust me not to out them and we became friends. The two who were willing to be openly out of the closet at work, one a gay man and one a lesbian, worked with me to found the OLGPA. The first year, we worked hard. We held regular meetings, staffed a booth at the Pride Festival, put up a web site and conducted telephone campaigns.
Many people submitted their names requesting information. We printed fliers and brochures and sent them out. Many people offered to volunteer at first but few showed up. And over time few became fewer. We organized a picnic and notified every member of the then thirty strong. Four members showed up. There seemed to be a fear that attendance at an actual OLGPA function would somehow get around and the members would be outed.
I can sympathize. I can also say that I’m doing fine. So are the other two members of my department. There are many more who are gay and we are available to any who need our support, out or not. My personal opinion is that I feel better about my self since coming out. The pro has outweighed the con. I would rather be true to myself and deal with life as it is; knowing that I’ve got the marbles than to take a vow to “protect and serve” but to live in fear.
So… What is OLGPA today? It’s three close friends who keep our telephone, website, and superhero capes at the ready should the other gay police in Ohio ever need us (and be willing to help themselves). In the meantime, there’s plenty of others who need our attention. Groups like HRC, Equality Ohio, and dare a cop speak it?…. Yes… the ACLU!