An Australian policeman, a 62-year-old policeman, Sergeant Bruno Stafiieri, is being investigated after an online comment telling another officer that there are only two genders.
“So you are doing tertiary education studying genders,” Staffieri wrote, “I’ll make it easy for you to pass … there are 2.”
As reported by The Age, the ongoing investigation into Staffieri “shapes as a test case for freedom of speech and the force’s recently revised social-media policy, particularly for officers expressing religious or political opinions online.”
It was not the first time Staffieri has landed in trouble for commenting on LGB and Trans stories.
He was under investigation for criticizing the government’s decision to cancel Anzac Day and Australia Day but allowed Gay Pride March.
“So the next time Australians are sent out to fight a war, maybe we can send out the 8000 that marched today … and try to stop the enemy by waving feathers and brightly coloured boas at them,” he said at the time.
In June 2021, the Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Neil Patterson posted on an internal police messaging platform that: “Victoria Police is proud to have been recognised as a silver employer at the 2021 Australian LGBTQ+ inclusion awards.”
Staffieri responded: “Yes, I agree. Great achievement. But if the public knew how much time, effort and taxpayer dollars went into this, they would also be demanding why we didn’t get a gold.”
