The LCR Pride Lifetime Achievement Award is a special award that is selected each year through public nominations. We had the pleasure of being joined by two previous recipients for a roundtable discussion, including the first ever winner and Liverpool’s legendary drag queen, Lady Sian, alongside last year’s winner Tracy O’Hara QPM, a trailblazing Detective Sergeant in Merseyside Police and the chair of their LGBT+ network.
What was it like to receive the LCR Pride Lifetime Achievement Award?
Lady Sian: The most wonderful thing that ever happened to me in my life! It really helped me believe in myself for who I am. It’s nice to be important, but it’simportant to be nice. I’ve been doing this for 42 years and I’m sort of slowing down now but that’s what I want to be remembered for, you know, for helping others, making friends and listening to people.
Tracy: Incredible. I have to say, I was just so proud, but so stunned at the sametime, I genuinely had no clue that it would be me or be somebody from the police. But to actually get it, oh my word, what an honour. We know that sometimes people don’t trust the police and we know people within our own community don’t trust us, so to stand in that moment, and be awarded that and get that reception, what a proud moment.
You have both had long careers in what you do. What are some of your highlights?
Lady Sian: So much, from being crowned by Lily Savage in the Alternative Miss Liverpool to 1991 winning the glamorous Miss Wirral. I’ve been asked to be a pop star to being on the TV on Emmerdale Farm.
Tracy: The award is right up there. I think when you’re part of a community yourself and you work in such a big organisation, like Merseyside Police, I think there are times that come around where you wish somebody would say, “nice job”. Because, you know, there’s so many brilliant people in Merseyside. To be chosen from within your own community, and by your own community, is just so special. There are other things I’ve achieved in my career like the Queens Police Medal, International Police Officer of the year and British Police Officer of the Year, but this was right up there because I felt acknowledged and that people recognise what I do. And for my Chief, who enables all I do, to be there with her support, was so special.
If you could say anything to your younger self about the journey you are about to take with your career, what would you say?
Lady Sian: If I could go back to being younger and to know what I know now, I’d love to say to myself there’s highs and lows, but lots of highs. I’m an advocate for people not taking drugs and reaching out for support as a result of my own experiences, but I use all of my experiences to help others. I hope believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel and they can be themselves.
Tracy: From the day when I almost left the force due to homophobia, to now being able to march through the streets in my uniform with my partner, I would never have dreamed that. I would never have envisaged that day, you know, never, never in a million years. If you’d have said to me in 1996, “stay with it, because one day, you’ll be in uniform marching through the streets of Liverpool, and people will be applauding you and want to shake hands and you can hold your partner’s hand”. i just wouldn’t have believed it.
Tracy, this question is for you: why do you think it’s important that we need more LGBT+ representation within the force?
Tracy: For young LGBT+ people or anyone on the rainbow spectrum, you have to see people in these spaces to think that you’ve got a chance of being it because most things are telling us that you can’t. Even now in the workplace, if I see a senior gay, bisexual or Trans leader, I look at them and I think, “brilliant”. I can do it too.
And, Lady Sian, as one of Liverpool’s most iconic drag queens, what do you want your legacy to be?
Lady Sian: That I’ll help anyone. It’s nice to be important, but it’s important to be nice. And that’s what I want to be remembered for. I think it’ll be weird for Liverpool when I go because I’ve been doing this for 42 years. I want people to remember, “oh, she was a good time”.
