Andy Burnham Apologises for Past Police LGBTQ+ Discrimination in Greater Manchester
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, has issued an apology for Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) historical discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, acknowledging the unacceptable mistreatment and pain caused. The apology was conveyed in a letter to LGBTQ+ rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who has been advocating for apologies from UK police forces for their past conduct toward the community.
Burnham noted that his mayoral powers do not extend to instructing chief constables directly, and that GMP operates independently. Previous attempts for an apology from GMP leadership were unsuccessful, with former chief constable Stephen Watson having declined to apologise.
Peter Tatchell welcomed Burnham's apology but emphasized the need for a formal apology from the entire GMP force and stated he would continue campaigning for such acknowledgments.
The history of GMP's homophobia was referenced, including former chief constable James Anderton's controversial remarks during the 1980s AIDS crisis and the 1984 police raid on Napoleon's bar in Manchester where patrons were outed publicly. The article also points out that more than 20 police forces across the UK, including the Metropolitan Police, Merseyside, Northumbria, and Police Scotland, have issued apologies for their past mistreatment of LGBTQ+ individuals.
