Listen again

Gay, black and a policeman - it's taken 39 years for Gamal to come to terms with who he really is...

Gamal, known as G, is enjoying living with his true identity.

It's one thing being young, gifted and black - it's quite another being black, gay and a member of the Metropolitan Police Force. But that's not all that Gamal Turawa has had to contend with in his life.

Gamal, known as G was born in the early sixties to a Nigerian father and a Jamaican mother.

As a baby he was sent to be fostered by a white middle class family in a village in Kent because his father, being 'old school' Nigerian, thought he'd have a better chance in life if he was 'trained' to be more English.

Until he was 8, pretty much the only black face he saw was his own in the mirror. Then, without any warning, his dad turned up to take him back. This was a very traumatic time for Gamal, his father was very much the boss in the house, very authoritarian. Both at home and at school homsexuality was looked upon with fear and loathing.

After being beaten by his father he spent a year in a children's home where he first realised he was gay.

Confusingly, Gamal's father felt he was becoming too English and was he was sent to Nigeria - a very homophobic society, for what he was told was a 2 week holiday. He was 16 and didn't return to the UK until 8 years later.

He eventually realised his dream and joined the police force and it was with the help and encouragement of a fellow gay officer that he finally 'came out' and he couldn't be happier.


Listen again to Gamal's story


More information
Previously on Home Truths: Unconventional Union
One Life: Exploring Sexuality
BBC Health: Being gay is not a choice