Support for the LGBTQIAP+ Brotherboy and Sistergirl community

Updated August 2019

Queensland Police Service has dedicated LGBTI Liaison officers stationed across the state. If involved in any police interactions you could ask to speak with a liaison officer. Unfortunately, not all officers have demonstrated awareness of LGBTQIAP+ Brotherboy and Sistergirl communities and their particular history with the police. Liaison officers may not always be available and at times officers have been unaware of their existence.

Be sure to take notes after any police interactions that indicate discrimination or abuse of power. You can lodge a police complaint.

We recommend seeking advice and information from the LGBTI Legal Service:

You can call or webchat with QLife on 1800 184 527, 3pm till midnight every day. This is a peer counselling service that is free of charge. It is best to first take down a written statement of what happened before discussing at length with anyone else. This may help to combat any suggestion that your testimony has been muddied.

Although Queensland Police Service policies relating to the treatment of Trans and gender diverse people have changed over time, individual officers may be unaware of changes or lack adequate training or understanding. You can find the Queensland Police Service Good Practice Guide for interactions with transgender clients here. Historical policies instructed officers to quietly enquire as to a person’s genitalia so they can be searched by someone with the same.