MY NEW HERO
Toronto Police Officer Luke Watson
Hey #Twitter if This gets a 1000 RT's @pc8430 will keep the hair 4 a week #DayofPink #stopbullyingnow @TorontoPolice pic.twitter.com/2TGhGykfXe
— Ryan Willmer (@RyanCP23) April 8, 2015Toronto police officer Luke Watson got a striking makeover in an effort to take a stand against homophobia and anti-gay discrimination. In honor of the International Day of Pink, Watson dyed his blond hair a fiery fuschia while colleague Ryan Willmer captured the transformation on social media. Watson showed off the new ‘do when he and Willmer visited area schools April 8. And it isn’t just a quick and temporary style shift, either. As the New York Daily News reported, Watson vowed to keep the colorful coiffure an additional week for every 1,000 retweets his picture received on Twitter, with an additional day added for each 100 tweets.
I expend a lot of time, energy, brain cells, and column inches on things I think are wrong with this world and some of the people in it. That said, I love coming across opportunities to relay the story of someone who’s gone the extra mile to make a difference. Sometimes it’s a simple as doing the right and/or a very good and thoughtful thing. In the case of Officer Watson, who made a very visible and admirable gesture, it’s a story that deserves to be told.
In a time when police are (in some cases justifiably) under assault for all manner of misbehavior, oppression, and offical misconduct, it feels good to be reminded that the vast majority of police officers are dedicated, hard-working people who sincerely want to make a difference in their community. In Officer Watson’s case, his commitment is difficult to miss. When you have your hair dyed electric pink to draw attention to the fight against homophobia, bullying, and anti-gay discrimination, you’re taking a clear and recognizable stance…one that will be visible for quite some time. There’s certainly no questions about what Officer Watson stands for…and he should be commended for representing that commitment to equality in his community.
Congrats @RyanCP23 & @pc8430 for bringing huge attention to anti-bullying efforts! You rock! http://t.co/lL8ZaxoJpc pic.twitter.com/TJSkVu48Y2
— The Randy Report (@randyslovacek) April 10, 2015We tend to think of changing the world as being a tremendous undertaking only the most committed can achieve or are capable of. In reality, each of us has the ability to change our world. In most cases, that change isn’t accomplished with grand, sweeping gestures and sledgehammer blows. It’s achieved little by little after nibbling around the edges with a rubber mallet. Officer Watson’s pink hair may not result in immediate change. Still, if it causes people to think about homophobia, anti-gay propaganda, and bullying, it might just convince a person or two to change their ways…or at least their thinking.
It’s impactful when a police officer, a representative of state power, takes a stand that may not be widely accepted. People don’t like being confronted with their own bigotry and misconceptions…but sometimes when they are, things change. When a police officer stands for something positive in a strong and visible way it becomes more difficult to pigeonhole all law enforcement representatives as angry, racist instruments of state power.
It takes some balls to dye your hair electric pink. I commend Officer Watson for taking a bold step to confront something he sees as a problem in his community. This is what it looks like when public servants take their job and what they represent seriously.
Well done.
