Huddersfield officer Pc Mark Carter concerned over homophobia

Nov 3 2009 By Neil Atkinson

HUDDERSFIELD police officer Mark Carter is an angry man.

Angry because of news about the brutal homophobic attack on Pc James Parkes outside a popular gay bar in Liverpool.

A pack of up to 20 people apparently targeted the 22-year-old because of his sexuality, leaving him with multiple skull fractures, a fractured eye socket and a broken cheekbone.

And Pc Carter is angry because homophobia is still a real risk, years after he joined the police and admitted his sexuality.

As an openly gay policeman and the winner of Mr Gay UK 2006, Pc Carter has also experienced hate crime.

“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.”

Pc Carter told people about his sexuality in 2005.

Within a year, he was holding the Mr Gay UK trophy surrounded by supporters, family, friends and fellow police officers and their wives.

“When I held that trophy in the air it was the most amazing feeling, for those few minutes there was just this extraordinary relief. Everyone in that room accepted me”.

Pc Carter said attitudes towards homosexuality are improving but this has not always been the case.

“I have 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?’’’

He attended a domestic violence situation not long after he came out, and was surrounded by a mob as he and a colleague got out of the police car.

“Amidst the cries from the crowds, I could hear the shouts of ‘queer’ and ‘faggot’.