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Former Mr Gay UK policeman admits he suffered abuse

November 17, 2009 5:02 pm / Leave a Comment

Following the attack of Liverpudlian James Parkes last month, former Mr Gay UK winner and full-time policeman, Mark Carter, has admitted that he suffered homophobic abuse as a result of the competition.

Speaking to PinkPaper.com, he said: ”Most people accepted me – in particular my family, friends and colleagues in the force.

“But I have also been to many incidents where I have had people just stopping, looking me up and down and shouting ‘You’re that gay bobby, aren’t you?’.”

In particular, he detailed how – when attending the scene of a domestic violence incident in 2005 - a gang circled him and began shouting homophobic abuse.
“I could hear shouts of  ‘queer’ and ‘faggot’,” he said. But despite his instintcs, he never called for back-up for fear of retribution. “I didn’t want to call for back-up and put other officers in danger because I didn’t like the insults they were throwing at me. But deep down I knew it was wrong,” he said to the BBC.

He also told of how, after a break at Brighton, he arrested a man who had been shouting homophobic abuse at train passengers while off-duty. He chased the individual and pinned him to the ground.

Carter detailed his experiences with homophobia as a mark of support to trainee police officer, James Parkes, who was brutally assaulted by up to twenty men in Liverpool city centre.
“Times have changed, people’s opinions are moving in a positive direction—these people should pat themselves on the back and encourage others to do the same.

“My thoughts are with the partner and family of my fellow officer PC Parkes and I am sure the investigating team will be doing all they can to bring his attackers to justice.”

He explained that however far we may have come, there is still work to be done.

“I was so angry when I read about this horrific attack, it shows that the shadows of homophobia are still there, under the surface of society.”

He then went on to add: “It is not about pushing the gay word up people’s noses. It’s about standing up for what is right.”

By Adam Lowe

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