LGBT Awareness For Law Enforcement


The LGBT Awareness For Law Enforcement course is available face-to-face and as a fully online course.  The course includes 4 hours of interactive instruction designed to address the following learning outcomes:

  1. The student will explain the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity and how these two aspects of identity relate to each other and to race, culture and religion.
  2. The student will define terminology used to describe sexual orientation and gender identity.
  3. The student will identify ways to create an inclusive workplace and to support LGBTQ+ co-workers.
  4. The student will identify key moments in the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement.
  5. The student will understand how hate crimes and domestic violence impact LGBTQ+ people.

For California agencies:

This course meets the training required by California Penal Code Section 13519.41 for all peace officers and dispatchers. The online course offers scenarios specific to the role of line-level officer, 9-1-1 dispatcher, and agency manager or executive.  The course is certified by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.  Participants who pass the course earn 4 hours of CPT credit.

For agencies outside of California:

We offer two versions of this course including one for line-level peace officers and dispatchers and a separate course for law enforcement managers and executives.  Both courses address the same learning outcomes, but the content has been focused on the student’s role in the agency.

All of formats of this class are interactive and engage participants in the course content.

In October of 2021, the F.B.I. incorporated this course into the F.B.I. National Academy.  Trainers from Out To Protect, through our formal relationship with the F.B.I.’s Office of Partner Engagement, traveled to Quantico to provide this class for the first time in F.B.I. history at the National Academy.  We are pleased to be regular participants in the National Academy presenting LGBTQ: Issues and Solutions for Law Enforcement Leaders.

More About Online Course

We are excited to offer the only online LGBT Awareness For Law Enforcement and LGBT Awareness For Law Enforcement Executives course in the country!  The course first developed in 2016 and is continuously updated to provide the latest and most contemporary information. The courses are hosted on the Canvas Learning Management System and no special software is required.  It can easily be accessed on any PC, MAC, or mobile device with Internet access.

Over 1500 law enforcement professionals from agencies across the United States have completed this course.  We are proud to offer it free of charge to any law enforcement professional or criminal justice student.  Click here for a list of some of the law enforcement agencies who have already participated in this training.

What Students Have Said About This Course

  • I enjoyed the historical aspect of this course. Not a lot of significant events in LGBT+ history were taught to me while in school so it was interesting to learn about.
  • This course provides a plethora of information.
  • I really thought that it was good to include the information about homeless LGBT+ juveniles and offers a way for officers to engage parents and minors on this topic.
  • The information provided is very well presented.
  • I enjoyed everything about this course.
  • What I valued most was learning new terminology I did not know about and learning about historical moments.
  • This course has been presented in a most mature, professional way that is easy to grasp and comprehend. It was very straight forward with real life situations regarding Domestic Violence within the LGBTQ community.

For agencies outside of California, this class is offered free of charge to law enforcement personnel. It requires 4 hours to complete.  Course completion certificates are available for $20.

For California law enforcement personnel, we offer the California P.O.S.T. certified version for $20 which includes a course completion certificate. This course satisfies the training required by California Penal Code section 13519.41 for all peace officers and dispatchers.  Select the link below applicable to you.

AGENCIES OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA REGISTER AND BEGIN TRAINING NOW

CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES REGISTER AND BEGIN TRAINING NOW

Did You Know?

According to the 2024 Racial Identity and Profiling Act report:

“Stopped individuals whom officers perceived to be LGBT had a higher proportion (17.9%) of their stops reported as being in response to a call for service than individuals whom the officers did not perceive to be LGBT (9.2%).”

“Stopped individuals whom officers perceived to be LGBT had a higher proportion of their stops involving the officers taking actions towards them (32.0%) than individuals officers did not perceive to be LGBT (19.8%).”

“Stopped individuals whom officers perceived to be LGBT were searched (20.2%), detained on the curb or in a patrol car (22.1%), handcuffed (17.8%), and removed from a vehicle by order (6.1%) at a higher rate than individuals officers did not perceive to be LGBT.”

“Individuals whom officers perceived to be LGBT had a lower rate of being cited (32.1%) or warned (26.9%) while having a higher rate of being arrested (25.4%) than individuals whom officers did not perceive to be LGBT (42.5% cited, 31.6% warned, and 15.9% arrested).”

“Individuals perceived as LGBT and transgender had the highest percentage of stops resulting in sole resisting arrest charges (25%, three times the statewide average).”

Why LGBT Awareness Training Is Necessary

LGBT awareness training continues to be critical for law enforcement. One of the recommendations in the 2022 report from California’s Racial Identity Profiling Advisory Board states:

“Require multiple hours of LGBT-specific training for all personnel and include LGBT advocacy organizations in training development and facilitation.”

Homophobia is fueled largely by fear and a general law of knowledge about sexual orientation and gender identity.  Non-heterosexuality can pose challenges for conservative belief systems and result in hostile work environments, civil litigation, and less than satisfactory service to the community. Three studies published 2013, 2015 and 2021 by UCLA’s Williams Institute showed that homophobia is pervasive throughout law enforcement in the United States.  These studies looked at internal and external events with law enforcement and LGBTQ+ people. Transphobia in law enforcement is perhaps an even greater problem. According to the last three years (2022-2024) of California Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA) reports, there is a great disparity in how transgender and gender non-conforming citizens are treated compared to their cisgender peers.

Our training will prepare law enforcement personnel to effectively serve members of the LGBTQ+ community and create a change of culture inside law enforcement that is more inclusive of LGBTQ+ employees.

It’s not a matter of if or when an LGBT employee will be hired – they are already working in law enforcement organizations throughout the country.  The issue is whether or not these colleagues of ours feel confident and comfortable coming out and being out at work.  When law enforcement officers understand LGBT colleagues, they are likely to be more comfortable in the field when serving LGBT members of the community.

Customized Online Course Available

Are you interested in providing this training for your entire agency?  We can provide a customized course featuring your agency logo, agency policies, and agency specific questions in the final quiz.  We will also provide certificates of completion for everyone who successfully completes the course. Customized courses are made available for personnel to complete within 30 to no more than 90 days.

Click here to inquire about pricing for a customized course.

Panel Discussion With LGBT Law Enforcement Professionals

IMG_1513One of the most effective ways of learning about the LGBT community is to hear the stories of LGBT people who are working in law enforcement.  We have an amazing team of professionals with a wide range of age, rank, and experience.  We can bring a panel to your organization or, better yet, bring your organization to the LGBT community.  We can immerse you in the LGBT community by providing a walking tour of the historic Castro District in San Francisco and include a round-table style panel discussion with LGBT law enforcement professionals.  This experience has received high praise from new recruits to seasoned veterans.   Like the programs above, our goals is to increase awareness through education and experience.  Our intent is to create a non-threatening open environment where participants can ask questions and engage in discussion with our experts.

Click here to request information about scheduling a face-to-face class.

Learn more answers from our FAQs.