I just viewed the preview for this program and found it to be extremely negative. Where's the postive spin to this topic? Knowing openly LGBT officers on the Toronto force, I have never heard comments such as the ones in the preview. Maybe another documentary should be done showing how the force isn't as bad as these officers claim.

The people of Toronto have always enjoyed the peacemakers that have truly provided the kind of security that is need in the most popular city in Canada. I doubt anyone is doubting that this is something new. Finally people can talk about this issue with respect. Why has it taken this long? Now if we can get the police to uncover other areas of their service then we all can have a greater respect as a city.

I've been an "out" police officer in Toronto for over 12 years; not once have I been treated in a negative manner because of my sexual orientation. Fingers crossed that the documentary is not pure fiction like the preview.

Before commenting, maybe you should watch the whole doc. In the meantime, perhaps, rather than suggesting that our experiences are 'pure fiction', one ought to thank those of us who stood up first. And, perhaps, such things were never heard because one never listened.

I watched it and and can very much relate. It is no different in the RCMP. I am employed not as an officer, but civilian member, administratively ... It's not any different there either. If your "out" you are a target, and it takes one strong person to work in an environment like that. Being gay and lesbian in the RCMP, is like being locked in your closet when you have already been out. J.Noseworthy ...Thanks ... for your trail blazing, your guts and your tenacity. You have my greatest respect, I remember when you came out years ago, and have always admired the way you did. Hats off to all of you in Toronto, for the making of this documentary, and hope that some other's will finally get the message right!

Min Sook Lee didn't do her research very well, the Vancouver Police Department had an out lesbian Deputy Chief (now retired). It currently has out lesbian Inspectors, Staff Sergeants, Sergeants and Detectives...I can't believe Min Sook Lee couldn't find more out cops in Toronto, I can guarantee that a force of that size has a proportionately higher percentage of gays and lesbians. Perhaps she didn't look very hard because she would get positive stories instead of negative ones...

Thank you to Paul, Jackie, Todd and Judy for going public. As lesbian working in some of the most positive worksites in the Ministry of Correctional Services, I have had a pretty easy ride, This is certainly not the case ifor many LGBTQ employees. We are moving ahead with a Pride in Corrections Affinity Group - as you might expect gay men and transsexual staff have the most difficult time - many lesbians simply try to lie low and fit in.

We let everyone in our group know about Badge of Pride - I am sure many were tuned in. Again thanks for your courage and your example -
Catherine Maunsell - Pride in Corrections

It seems to me that what this doc displays is the usual "things are better than they were." The real prize, though, is the arrival of the day when it is no longer necessary to make docs about this subject. I know that for as long as I live I will never fully understand the notion that some people feel they have a right to discuss, explore and/or pass judgement on my sex life. Does it ever occur to these people that there is something inherently perverse about intruding into someone elses sex life regardless of orientation? Do they seriously expect me to care about their opinion of my sex life? That they do is, to me, all the evidence I need that they are in serious need of counselling at least.

and I do thank you for standing up, as woman, and a lesbian, can identify
its the same for all,
all walks of life have their versions
brilliant, courageuos, and beautiful work
i am proud and envious in equal measure
and am inspired to risk being myself

I'm a 25-year veteran Correctional Officer currently employed at the Toronto Jail and I've been out at work since 1992. I found this episode quite disheartening and frustrating to say the least. It appears that a few of the Police Officers are throwing in the towel and running for the hills because they're sick of the comments and apparent harassment.

Well, you know what...WHO CARES WHAT ANYONE THINKS? Grow up, get a grip, stop whining and get on with your careers...the city needs you.

Very good account of queer people being out in the police service in Toronto. Even though they show they are "friendly" to Gays and Lesbians there seems to be much more that the police service can do to improve the work place for those out in the Police service. Many of the Officers still seem to be very Homophobic and need to be educated that they can hurt by words.

Harassment can be in many forms and can seriously hurt ones health in many different ways. I have experienced this as a Fire Fighter in a small town. Being outed is not fun and has had some serious impacts on my life. I truly understand what a lot of them in the Toronto Police Service have gone through, especiallyVery good account of queer people being out in the police service in Toronto. Even though they show they are "friendly" to Gays and Lesbians there seems to be much more that the police service can do to improve the work place for those out in the Police service. Many of the Officers still seem to be very Homophobic and need to be educated that they can hurt by words.

Harassment can be in many forms and can seriously hurt ones health in many different ways. I have experienced this as a Fire Fighter in a small town. Being outed is not fun and has had some serious impacted my life. I truly understand what a lot of them in the Toronto Police Service have gone through, especially what happened to Todd Hillhouse.

A lot of the things that happened to them had happened to me in one respect or another.

I'm really confused.. my partner is a member of the RCMP and an out lesbian. There are gay and lesbian "out" members all throughout the ranks of the RCMP (All the way from Constable, to Corporal to Sergeants and even Inspectors) and there are many that outrank the officers profiled in this film... I'm not sure when this film was made but this is not at all reflective of our experience with the RCMP over the past 8 years.

My partner was not out at when she was at Depot Division for many of the same fears expressed in experiences in this film but a troop mate (a gay man) was also not out until finally one day he came out to a senior member who in no uncertain terms informed the entire troop that if the gay cadet experiences ANY trouble while at training the offending cadets would be on the next bus home! And the very next weekend the entire troop went to a gay bar with their troop mate to show their support and solidarity! My partner got the message - and before she could out herself to other members one female (and straight member) approached her and told her it was okay and that she was safe to come out whenever she was ready!

But these are just anecdotal experiences and possibly not fully reflective of the entire force spanning all over the country with over 20 000 members... and the RCMP has got quite the history with gay oppression too but things have really changed for the better now and maybe the producers of this film should give the RCMP a call? There’s been a lot of bad publicity about the RCMP lately and it can be pretty discouraging from our end but this is one issue I can say that I am very proud of the RCMP!!

I would like to thank those from the Toronto Police Services who had the courage to bring this story to the public, for as much as the story needs to be told there will be a personal cost associated with the exposure. It is through your story we may hope to see real measurable change.
A few years back the slogan for May 17th International Day against Homophobia was “Homophobia becoming more subtle”, this speaks to the reality that bashings have most often been replaced with taunts and teasing’s. The reality is that bashings, taunts, teasing, lost promotions, or fear of reprisal are all too common in workplaces and until our governments, employers and communities begin to see the seriousness of the negative effects of these actions, we have much work to be done.
There will be those who pass up working in a field or job that they have so much to offer, yet are fearful of the realities of homophobia and ignorance of those who now feel righteous in accepting us. There will be the cost to our communities if we don’t have an accurate reflection of the queer people in job functions in the societies we live or in police forces that are meant to protect our interests and rights.
I acknowledge your courage in coming forward and making change, you like others who have made change in their workplace will continue to inspire others to step up and speak out against the negative consequences of Homophobia and transphobia
In Pride and Solidarity
BIlly O'Neill
CAW Local 707

In my opinion homophobia is still a reality everywhere. I know the Toronto Police has come a long way and has immensely improved attitudes towards gays. The Toronto Police jointly with many community organizations is part of the (RHVP campaign - Report Homophobia Violence, Period) which is a brilliant initiative that maybe should be known by members of the force who feel persecuted and bullied and could use the service. Instead pointing fingers to each other, all should work together to identify and fix what is wrong. That way, maybe one day we all can live our lives fully without fearing how people will judge us based in sexual orientation. Last but not least I would like to applaud the officers who had the courage to step forward and made of their experience a lesson and example of encouragement to others who feel disempowered to show really who they are.
Congratulations!

Many thanks to the gay and lesbian officers who appeared in this documentary, as well as the straight officers who spoke.

The bravery and humanity displayed by the documentary's subjects brought tears to my eyes.

It truly disturbs me to think that there are people who are so intolerant within the police force (I am not surprised, however, nor is it "news" to me).

For people to deny that a problem exists is outrageous, and counter productive. It reminds me of the, "I'm not racist, one of my best friends is ______" . To deny these people the reality of their experiences is arrogant and highly troubling -- it reinforces the idea that the problems highlighted in the documentary are, indeed, insidious and run deep.

Problems brushed under the carpet do not go away. Perhaps some progress has been made, and there are some gay and lesbian officers benefiting from the improvements that their predecessors have worked so hard to create, but there seems to be a very long way to go.

Thank you Min Sook Lee for your glimpse into the Toronto Police Department.

I just want to say that I support Gays, and Lesbians! Good Job Aunt Jackie! I love everyone Equally! Everyone was created EQUAL!

I produced Badge of Pride and I think it is amazing that so many people are passionate about our documentary. What is clear to me is some people agree and others disagree with the experiences of the officers who spoke in the documentary. What I know is everyone in the film feels we accurately represented their experiences. But I do want to note that a number of people have jumped on Min Sook’s statement describing Judy Nosworthy’s rank on the force. What Min Sook actually said is--

11:58
It's said that Detective Judy Nosworthy is the highest ranking out gay cop in the country. When she joined in 1984 she wasn’t out.

34:58
Even though Detective Judy Nosworhty is reputedly the highest ranking out gay cop in the country, she points out to me that it’s not that impressive.

Min was repeating a statement that was told to her a few times. She also made sure the statement was not an absolute. I hope people don’t fixate on this as a means to discredit the content of what the very brave officers in the documentary are saying.

In the five years I've been with the Service, I can honestly say I've never experienced the same type of negativity that Hillhouse, O'Keefe and Nosworthy have had. As the only civilian member in my unit, I am as out as Regan is and feel just as accepted. We all talk, joke and laugh and scream, much like my in own nuclear family where my being gay is a non-issue. Should I ever get married someday, I know that the officers I work with will all proudly attend the ceremony and show their faces on the video as much as my mom, dad, brother and sister proudly will.

As a young queer female, just entering into the professional workforce as a Therapist, I am happy to be entering into a field which I hope will be as inclusive, accepting, and embracing of diversity as we purport ourselves to be to our clients.

Having recently returned from three months in Ghana, West Africa, where my partner and I lived in secrecy for our own safety, I have become increasingly aware of the need for the LGBT community to truly COME OUT and to HAVE a VOICE that will be respected, protected, and heard.

Thank you to those who are speaking out against discrimination, oppression and violations of human rights, and thank you to the documentary creators!

This cannot be dismissed as fictitious- just because not EVERYONE is experiencing it, or experiencing it in the same way, does not mean people are NOT being treated horribly and unjustly, and this needs to be explored and exposed.
In regards to comment about the documentary being negative/lacking a positive spin, perhaps at this point in time, there IS no 'positive spin'...this is just the sad truth of the struggle of LGBT people in our world today, and this is exactly why these stories need to keep being told, so that eventually, one day there will not only be a positive 'spin', but a true positive outcome: it will no longer be a story that needs to be told because being gay will not be an issue.

I find it interesting that some of the people on this forum seem to gloss over the very real experiences of the brave officers taking on this issue in the limelight in favor of hearing 'positive' stories from GLBT members of the police force. The accounts of harassment noted in the documentary cannot be reduced to mere 'media spin'. Only those officers and those close to them can really know the impact that homophobia and sexism has had on their lives - which by the way, are on the line on a daily basis and they need the back-up of their colleagues and peers!! I also think that any one individual shouldn't have to shoulder the burden of this change - it is incumbent on all of us, gay or straight, civilian or officer, to pressure the police service to move in a different direction. Even one negative story from a GLBT member on the job should be one too many. It takes guts to tell the truth and I appreciate the guts these officers have.

I have found the RCMP, DND and federal employees to be backed up and protected well when it comes to being out in their work places. Maybe the federal legislation that protects their rights and the will of those who are in charge of upholding the legislation has something to do with it. It seems the Government and Management take it seriously to protect the rights of these people who wish to be themselves.
It is sad that this is not the case when it comes to others who work for various other agencies not connected to the federal Government. I am sure many across this country can tell you that once there employer found out about their sexual orientation they were eventually let go or had to quit because the workplace became intolerable. In many cases they were likely singled out then set up or dismissed under faults pretences. This is reality even though the laws are there, it seems discriminating employers can use many other tactics to get rid of employees they know are gay or are suspected of being gay.

First of all I want to state that I respect all the officers who appeared in the documentary; thank you! Your integrity, will and courage to fight for us all, is honourable.
The people who have stated that they have never been discriminated against....you’re the exceptions! I hope there are more stories like yours. With that in mind you should be thanking the officers in this film and the many who have fought in the past to get you to where you are. However, be true to yourselves and don't speak out in haste.
Several people have made comments that this documentary is negative towards the Toronto Police Service. The documentary is simply opening our eyes to the fact that discrimination does exist and it has great implications. It also opens a forum to discuss the issues and make changes. How does one put at a positive spin on discrimination?
I believe that officer Regan is blinded by the discrimination that surrounds him. It is obvious that he is desperate to fit in and wants to be treated equally. I don't blame him, but just wake up. I think that "Mad Dog" is trying to do the right thing, but even he, is so blatantly homophobic. If you truly believe in equal rights, you will gain more respect for being your own person then worrying about what the rest of the guys will think. If more people did this, then maybe the TPS will move forward much quicker.
Todd, Judy and Jackie are not self serving. They had the courage to do the right thing by sharing their personal experiences, hoping to make a better working environment for all Toronto Police employees. They are up holding what Police Officers are hired to do; Protecting and enforcing the law and our human rights! You are the ultimate team players and your fight will benefit us all.
Jackie, the Police Service and the Community you served truly lost out the day you resigned. You have met the TPS mission statement and core values; Honesty, Integrity, Fairness, Respect, Reliability, Teamwork, and Positive Attitude. You did your duty and continue to fight. Hat’s off to you!

Sometimes doing the right thing, is the hardest thing to do.

“Together we make a difference”

The description for this doc is misleading in itself - fact check CBC:

"Shot in Toronto, Badge of Pride looks at how queer cops in Canada's largest police force..." Toronto Police Force is NOT Canada's largest police force.

AND...

..." Sergeant Judy Nosworthy (48), a twenty-two year veteran who is the country's first out Lesbian cop and the highest-ranking LGBT cop in Canada..."

also misleading and untrue.

Now I may add that those fact checking mistakes should not take away from the HORRIFIC experiences of these officers in that police service but I think this doc exposes a whole lot more about the Toronto Police than it's homophobia and heterosexism.. the ultra machoism, superman of the police persona carries so many institutionalized implications for women, for racial minorities, for first nations and especially GLBT officers and just like one of the female officers (O'Keafe) said, "they really don't give a crap."

And they don't...

They thrive on the super male image and anything that challenges that image is viewed as a threat to the institution - that phony, faulty, oppressive and patriarchical image that's perpetuated the second you enter training at the Ontario Police College... the racism, heterosexism and misogyny is transmitted transgenerationally throughout the training experience. It is a subtle and insidious process that's not documented anywhere and no one can can point a finger to any particular source but for ANY minority that's been sujected to it - they can tell you it's there - and this doc shows it still there...

I have been in the army for 21 years and out for 15. I have had only a couple of negative experience, mostly in the early '90's. Now it is a non issue...for the most part. I was proud to be supported by the military when we marched for the first time in Toronto Pride a couple of years ago. My partner is fully supported and appreciated by my unit and my peers.

I think police officers need to be held to a higher standard. Though I feel for the harassment of these officers, I wish that more complaints were made against their harassers so that the organization would be forced to change.