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PC Mark Carter became Mr Gay UK at the end of September in a star-studded night at Blackpool's Flamingo nightclub. He spoke to Paul Hunt and gave Shout! his first real in-depth interview, speaking openly about his coming out and life for a gay, serving police officer.
So Mark, how did it all start?
It was a rather impulsive night out in Birmingham this summer, I went to a club with friends, the Mr Gay UK competition was on and quite by chance and ‘after a few shandies’ I was up there competing. I won the heat and quite honestly panicked! The Police force is a much disciplined organisation and I spoke to my Duty Inspector the following morning. After consultation with senior officers the word came back that they would support me!
Mark, who is twenty three, lives in Bradford. He joined West Yorkshire Police two years ago and whilst by then he was confident about his sexual orientation it was still a big step revealing this to family, friends and new colleagues. How did you eventually come out?
I can remember it very vividly - my younger brother and I were talking about a recent night out I’d had and asked me if I had met anyone? As I had, he asked me what ‘she’ was like, it was then I told him it was not actually a woman. He was fine about it and we talked a lot. I am not at all camp or effeminate so it must have been quite a shock.
The ‘double life’ was making me feel quite down, I would cry myself to sleep at night worrying about what would people think of my deceit. To be honest, at that point I wished I could have taken a pill to make me straight.
My brother supported me in coming out to my parents, who were really understanding. Slowly, I felt like a huge weight was easing from me.
What about your work colleagues?
I have always believed in telling the truth and made a pact with myself that if someone asked me if I was gay I would be open and honest.
It’s just that it came far earlier than I expected, I was just two months into my Police career, based at Huddersfield, when a colleague asked me during a night out.
Bit by bit I started to tell people, to be honest I was amazed at the response, in many ways stereotypes and myths were blown away. And my colleagues do not regard me any differently. In fact nothing’s changed in the way my colleagues treat me. I used to be Mark Carter. Now I’m ‘Mark Carter who just happens to be gay.’
What about the public reaction?
People have come up, shaken my hand and given me lots of support.
There has been a tiny bit of name-calling - but then again the people who have done that would probably have hurled abuse at me anyway just because I’m a police officer. As a police officer you get all sorts of abuse but, being in the police has toughened me up and opened my eyes. You see dead bodies, you might go to a shooting or a murder scene, a few comments aren’t the worst thing you have to contend with.
So, how was your big night?
I was amazed at the support of both the audience and my colleagues; fifty of them came to the Blackpool final to support me. That was so special and that meant so much more than the actual winning on the night.
You must have been pretty nervous just before the result was announced.
That is an understatement. The compere, Richard Newman from Big Brother was excellent, as were the judges who included Jenny Parkin from Bent and Su Pollard and Anita Dobson. When it was announced I felt really emotional and at one point it hit me what a rollercoaster of a ride I had been on in the previous eighteen months.
What does the next twelve months hold for you?
Well I will travel the country as Mr Gay UK - an ambassador for the gay community and equally importantly the police. I have a number of Mr Gay UK photo shoots lined up and of course I will enjoy the prize money and a cruise in May. I have made a donation to the fund for murdered Bradford colleague Sharon Beshenivsky from my winnings, it’s almost one year on from Sharon’s death and I wanted to honour her memory
Will you winning help change some views not only of Gay men but of police officers?
If this has shown one thing it is that the police are not the stereotypical homophobic organisation that some people still think it is - it is just not like that at all. Times have changed. I am happy that people will be able to see that there are police officers who are gay and we are not necessarily the usual people that they see on TV programmes like Big Brother, It will be good for other young gay men to see someone like me who has been successful in a professional job like policing.
I think my winning has helped change the public perception of the stereotypical gay man and that is something I am very proud of.
You have a bit of a ‘sporty background’ tell us more.
At school I was called Carter URM - the unstoppable running machine. After leaving school I went on to do a sports science degree at Derby University, just missing out on a first. At uni I got into football coaching and did a placement with Derby County. I also spent some time in the USA football coaching. Now I play soccer for my shift and represent West Yorkshire Police at cross country running.
The Mr Gay UK competition certainly focussed my mind on looking the best I could and I spent a lot of time at the gym and eating sensibly.
What would you say to any young gay man reading this and thinking about coming out?
Well, there is never an easy time, but you should tell someone who you can trust and who you believe will be supportive, perhaps a family member. Take your time, there is no rush, but neither is there a right or wrong way to go about coming out. Trust your own instincts; you may, as I was, be surprised at the reaction.
And how do you feel now, after your ‘rollercoaster ride’?
Now I’m out and gay and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’ve never been happier and for the first time in my life I can be myself. I want to fully enjoy my twelve months as Mr Gay UK and continue doing the job I love in the Police Force.
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