LGBT liaison officer explained

LGBT liaison officers or Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers (GLLOs) are individuals who work within organisations as a point of contact. They build rapport and trust between an organisation and the communities they serve. LGBT liaison officers ensure that the LGBT community are receiving equitable and culturally competent service provision.^{[1] [2]} LGBT liaison officers also raise issues within organisations that may impact LGBT communities and play a significant advocacy role when developing policies, programs, and services.^[3]

Police LGBT liaison programs

LGBT Liaison Officers have been appointed since at least 1962, when San Francisco Police Department appointed Elliott Blackstone as the United States' first liaison officer to the "homophile community". A pioneer of community policing, Blackstone worked within the police department to change policy and procedures directed against the LGBT community, such as entrapment of gay men in public restrooms.

Notable LGBT liaison officers

• Danielle Bottineau: LGBT Liaison Officer for the Toronto Police Service.^[4]
• Ben Bjarnesen: LGBT Liaison Officer for the Queensland Police Service (since 2010).^[5]
• Mickaël Bucheron : LGBT Liaison Officer for the Paris Police Prefecture^{[6] [7]}
• Aditi Hardikar: LGBT Liaison Officer for the White House (November 2014).^[8]
• Monique Dorsainvil: LGBT Liaison Officer for the White House after Raghavan's resignation,^[9] and until the position was filled by Aditi Hardikar.
• Gautam Raghavan: LGBT Liaison Officer (officially "Associate Director of Public Engagement") for the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, appointed by the president.
• Richard Socarides: Former LGBT Liaison Officer for the White House (May 1996).^[10]
• Brian Bond: Former LGBT Liaison Officer for the White House.^[11]
• Bill Kraus: Former LGBT Liaison Officer for Congressman Phillip Burton. Successful in persuading Burton to publicly acknowledge the need for AIDS research.^[12]

Notable LGBT Liaison Programs

• Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit - Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (established June 2000).
• Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers^[13] (referred to as GLLO) team in the New South Wales Police Force, for over 25 years.
• Queensland Police Service - LGBTI Liaison Officer Program established in 1997.^[14]
• Amsterdam Police Roze in Blauw.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers . 2022-05-17 . South Australia Police . Government of South Australia . en-au.
2. Web site: June 2021 . LGBTQ Liaison Units: Listening, Adjusting, and Meeting Needs . 2022-05-17 . The Community Policing Dispatch . Volume 14; Issue 6 . United States Department of Justice.
3. Web site: Pakouta . Andy . Forsyth . Anthony . April 2020 . LGBT Liaison Officer's Manual of Guidance . 18 May 2022 . LGBT Police United Kingdom . 10–14.
4. Web site: Mann . Arshy . The gay cop trying to fix the relationship between Toronto's LGBT communities and the police . Xtra Magazine . August 3, 2018 . November 16, 2021.
5. Web site: Why QPS Acting Sergeant Ben Bjarnesen Became An LGBTI Liaison Officer . QNews . February 27, 2019 . November 16, 2021.
6. https://www.prefecturedepolice.interieur.gouv.fr/prevention/vos-interlocuteurs/lofficier-de-liaison-lgbt
7. https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/mickael-bucheron-le-premier-officier-de-liaison-lgbt-a-la-prefecture-de-police-de-paris-20-11-2019-8197830.php Mickaël Bucheron, le premier officier de liaison LGBT à la préfecture de police de Paris»
8. News: Johnson. Chris. New White House LGBT liaison named. 18 September 2015. Washington Blade. November 10, 2014. Washington, DC.
9. News: Snow. Justin. White House LGBT liaison to depart Obama administration. 17 September 2015. Metro Weekly. September 4, 2014. Washington, DC.
10. News: Bull . Chris . 11 July 1999 . His Public Domain, His Private Pain . The Washington Post . 18 May 2022.
11. Web site: Exclusive Interview With Brian K. Bond, the New PFLAG Executive Director . 2022-05-17 . BlogTalkRadio. 27 February 2020 .
12. Web site: Rutledge . Stephen . 2021-06-25 . #BornThisDay: Pride Pioneer, Bill Kraus . 2022-05-17 . The WOW Report . en-US.
13. Web site: Sexuality, Gender Diversity and Intersex. Working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people - NSW Police Force. Wales. corporateName=NSW Police Force; jurisdiction=New South. www.police.nsw.gov.au. en. 2017-03-22. 2017-03-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20170323135706/http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/community_issues/gay,_lesbian_and_transgender_issues. dead.
14. Web site: Archived copy . 2019-12-05 . 2019-12-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191206005707/https://www.police.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-07/LGBTI%20Liaison%20Officer%20Brochure.PDF . dead .