A Conversation with Gamal Turawa (The Black Cop)
What happens when you spend much of your life trying to fit in, only to discover that being yourself is the most powerful thing you can do?
Join Pride in Leadership for a fascinating and deeply personal conversation with Gamal Turawa, the first openly gay Black police officer in London’s Metropolitan Police and the subject of the BAFTA-winning documentary The Black Cop.
Gamal has lived an extraordinary life. From a childhood marked by upheaval and adversity to more than 25 years in the Metropolitan Police, his story is one of identity, survival, courage and ultimately self-acceptance. Along the way, he has confronted racism and homophobia, both in the world around him and in his own beliefs and behaviour.
In this online conversation, we’ll explore Gamal’s remarkable journey, what it meant to navigate being Black and gay within the police, and the experiences that helped him find the confidence to live authentically. We’ll also talk about The Black Cop, the impact of sharing such a personal story with the world, and what he has learned about the complicated ways we see ourselves and others.
Looking beyond his personal experiences, we’ll discuss what belonging really means, why organisations sometimes struggle to move beyond the language of inclusion, and how leaders can create environments where people don’t feel they have to hide who they are.
Hosted by Pride in Leadership co-founder Claire Ebrey, this will be an open, honest and wide-ranging conversation, with plenty of opportunity for audience questions.
About Gamal Turawa
Gamal Turawa is a culture change specialist, international speaker and founder of Purplefrog Connections. A former Metropolitan Police 
officer and the first openly gay Black officer in the Met, his remarkable journey has taken him from childhood adversity, foster care and homelessness to becoming the subject of the BAFTA-winning documentary The Black Cop.
During more than 25 years in policing, Gamal experienced racism, homophobia and the pressure to hide parts of his identity to fit in. His journey towards self-acceptance, and his willingness to speak openly about both the discrimination he experienced and the part he played in perpetuating it, have given him a powerful perspective on identity, belonging and organisational culture.
His story reached an international audience through The Black Cop, directed by Cherish Oteka, which won the BAFTA for Best British Short Film in 2022. That same year, Gamal was recognised at the National Diversity Awards as a Positive Role Model.
Today, Gamal works with organisations around the world, helping leaders and teams build cultures where people feel seen, heard and valued. Through his distinctive G’Ology approach, he challenges people to look beyond labels, assumptions and division, creating space for honest conversations about dignity, belonging and our shared humanity.
Known for his warmth, humour and extraordinary honesty, Gamal combines powerful storytelling with practical insight, encouraging people to question their assumptions, embrace difference and recognise the part they can play in creating meaningful change.
