LGBTQIA+ communities

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) recognises that people of diverse genders, diverse sexualities and innate variations of sex characteristics, who are often referred to as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and/or other identities or experiences represented by + in the acronym LGBTQIA+, are not a homogenous group. Each person has unique and distinct needs with diverse experiences and backgrounds.

The QPS acknowledges the relationship with people from LGBTQIA+ communities has not always been consistent with professional practice and community expectations. More broadly, people from LGBTQIA+ communities experience discrimination, harassment and hostility in many parts of everyday life; in public, at work and study and accessing services. People from LGBTQIA+ communities may also be reluctant to engage police due to concerns about confidentiality, discrimination and a perceived lack of comprehension regarding their sexuality, gender identity or innate variations of sex characteristics.

The QPS is committed to ensuring policing services are accessible to all members of the community, which includes services and programs that are tailored and responsive to the needs of LGBTQIA+ people.

The QPS LGBTQIA+ Liaison Program was established in 1997 to support the delivery of a professional, non-discriminatory, accessible policing service to LGBTQIA+ communities.

The QPS is proud of its role as a community leader for diversity and inclusion. The QPS supports and actively participates in LGBTQIA+ events such as Pride Festivals, Wear it Purple Day and International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT).

LGBTQIA+ liaison officers

An integral part of the LGBTQIA+ Liaison Program is the LGBTQIA+ liaison officer.

LGBTQIA+ liaison officers promote trust and understanding between the QPS and LGBTQIA+ communities ensuring confidence in a fair and equitable policing response. LGBTQIA+ liaison officers receive specific LGBTQIA+ training and are sensitive to the issues each community faces.

LGBTQIA+ liaison officers can support you by providing discreet, non-judgemental advice, assistance or referral for all police-related matters. LGBTQIA+ liaison officers are also called upon to use their knowledge to support police investigators in LGBTQIA+-related prejudice motivated crime, domestic and family violence, and criminal matters.

There are over 150 LGBTQIA+ liaison officers working in police stations around the state.

Contacting an LGBTQIA+ liaison officer

LGBTQIA+ people are encouraged to report all police-related matters to their local police station or via Policelink.

If, however, an LGBTQIA+ person feels more comfortable in discussing the matter with an LGBTQIA+ liaison officer, please make a request on first contact with police or call Policelink on 131 444 for a referral to a liaison officer in your local area.  LGBTQIA+ liaison officers contact list

Please note that LGBTQIA+ liaison officers undertake their role in addition to their usual duties. This may mean a liaison officer may not be available at all times.

Policing for people from LGBTQIA+ communities 

The QPS Policing for people from LGBTQIA+ communities guidelines were released in 2023 to inform QPS members of their obligation to engage with people from LGBTQIA+ communities in accordance with legislation, policy and best practice. This will ensure interactions are respectful, ethical, equitable, fair and compatible with human rights. The guidelines provide information and advice on LGBTQIA+ topics including:

• Effective strategies for engagement
• Domestic and family violence
• Sexual assault
• Searching
• Custody
• Vilification
• Recording in police systems
• Assistance and referrals
• Education and training.

Policing for people from LGBTQIA+ communities guidelines

Please note: Some hyperlinks in the guidelines are deactivated as they link to QPS internal sites.

Reporting sexual assault

There are a number of support and reporting options for LGBTQIA+ people who have been sexually assaulted. They include:

• Sexual Assault Helpline 1800 010 120
• LGBTQIA+ Legal Service (07) 3124 7160
• Reporting to police in person, online or via the Alternative Reporting Option (see below).

QPS Alternative Reporting Option

The QPS Alternative Reporting Option (ARO) exists for victims of sexual assault and provides an alternative to making a formal police complaint.  Many victims have reasons for not officially reporting sexual assault.  ARO gives the victim of sexual assault the opportunity to provide police with the full circumstances of their assault with the option of remaining anonymous. Find out more ARO information and the online ARO - Sexual Assault Form. 

Vilification of LGBTQIA+ people

LGBTQIA+ people are subjected to vilification due to the community’s lack of awareness and/or bias about their actual or perceived sexuality, gender identify or natural variations to physical or biological sex characteristics.  Not only is vilification against the law, it can also have long lasting effects on LGBTQIA+ people’s health, safety, and wellbeing.

There are two types of vilification offences within the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld), one civil and one criminal. The first of these offences is section 124A of the Act, ‘Vilification on grounds of race, religion, sexuality or gender identity unlawful,’ which provides civil remedies and is dealt with by the Queensland Human Rights Commission (QHRC).

Section 131A, of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld), outlines an offence relating to serious racial, religious, sexuality or gender identity vilification (where threatening or inciting others to threaten physical harm).

An offence under this section is a criminal offence and is dealt with by the Queensland Police Service. Police will investigate this complaint using the same process as other criminal offences.

Change of name or sex

Self-initiated change of name or sex by gender diverse, transgender, and intersex people on Police Information Systems:

If you have legally changed your name and or sex you can update this information in the Queensland Police Records and Information Management Exchange (QPRIME) computer system. (Please note amendments via the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages does not automatically update QPRIME).

This will ensure your details are accurate for subsequent police engagement. To update your details, complete the Change of Personal Details Notification form. The form also allows you to provide notification of your preferred gender.

External LGBTQIA+ support services

Go to LGBTQIA+ Support Organisations (PDF) to access the referral options listed below:

• Health and welfare
• Youth
• Intersex people
• Domestic and family violence
• Transgender and gender diverse people
• Older people
• Legal services
• First Nations peoples
• Culturally and linguistically diverse people.

Contacting Queensland Police Service

The QPS is committed to working with all members of the community to stop crime and make Queensland safe. The QPS encourages the reporting of crime against LGBTQIA+ people.

• Crime happening right now? Call triple zero (000) - If not, think Policelink

For all non-urgent police reporting you can report online or call Policelink on 131 444

To report information on a crime anonymously you can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or complete an online form at Crime Stoppers.