I’m Police Constable Jonny Dunlop. I am 34-years-old and married to my husband of 15 years, who is also a serving officer with Police Scotland, and together we have two boys whom we adopted.
I joined the police in 2008 and have served in various uniformed and detective based roles in Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire, Forth Valley and Edinburgh.
I served for six years as a uniformed officer in Grangemouth, from 2016 to 2022, working alongside colleagues in response policing where I covered a huge geographic area with a diverse population from communities in Banknock to Blackness and Slamannan to South Alloa.
When I first enquired about joining the police the world was a very different place and I wasn’t completely open about my sexuality.
There was no equal marital rights or parental rights and I had just gone through an education system during the period of Section 28, where the very discussion of sexuality was prohibited.
I was worried about how I would be received by my peers and if they would accept me for being my true authentic self. I think these were normal feelings and I felt the same feelings in my previous jobs.
Despite my worries, being a Police Scotland officer is good. I am very proud to be a cop and I take great pride in putting on my uniform and trying my best to help people in what can be very difficult and traumatic experiences.
I try not to define myself solely by my sexuality, it is very much a part of me which brings its own benefits from lived experiences and has taught me to have a thick skin, but no more than I am a father, son, friend and colleague.
I don’t personally like the term ‘coming out’ but that is just my own view and might seem strange to others reading this.
I hope there is a day soon where persons that are not heterosexual don’t feel compelled by wider society to announce that they are LGBTI, it is not expected that if a person is straight that they would need to do the same.
I am of the view that sexuality is one of many strands that make me who I am, but it isn’t the sole one that defines me. Coming out can be quite liberating for some people but for me it was more gradual and something I built up to steadily over time speaking to family, friends, colleagues until it just became part of my day to day life.
I haven’t had anything homophobic directed towards myself through work. I’m not sure if I am unique in that sense and have maybe just been lucky with the teams in which I have worked who have always shown an interest in my own experiences and how the adoption process works.
I am a very open and honest person and I like to take time to get to know the people I work with and always go out my way to be supportive of others where I can and I think that probably helps build relationships and trust.
The police and society in general has gone on quite a journey when it comes to diversity since I started in 2008 and I am now a local divisional representative for our LGBTI staff association.
There is always still much more work that can be done to build sustainable and trusting relationships between the police and minority groups in our communities and I think it is important that the workforce of Police Scotland represents and mirrors the communities we serve, not just on LGBTI experiences.
I am acutely aware that my position being one letter ‘G’ of LGBTI has improved however other parts of the wider community still unfortunately face regular discrimination which I hope improves with changes in the move to more inclusive education in Scotland’s schools.
My advice to anyone in the LGBTI+ community who is considering joining Police Scotland would be to ask lots and of questions which would help alleviate any fears, speak to officers and staff that are currently serving and get their views and honest opinions.
There is the Scottish LGBTI Police Association who would be willing to speak to prospective new recruits and answer any questions they may have and Police Scotland also has a positive Action Team who have regular recruitment events, in which serving LGBTI officers provide question and answer sessions.
