National LGBT News Briefs: Campus, Catholics and Cops
Bathroom politics hit Pitt, Catholic hierarchy challenged on LGBT youth and LAPD takes a step on transgender policy
LAPD Announced New Transgender Inclusive Policies
The Los Angeles Police Department has released new policies regarding officer interactions with transgender individuals.
The new policies, signed by LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, instruct officers to be ”respectful, professional, and courteous” to those who identify as transgender.
Some of the new procedures include the usage of ”gender pronouns appropriate to the individual’s gender identity and expression,” the elimination of frisking solely to identify someone’s biological gender, and requests to remove ”appearance-related” items that can be associated with one’s gender identity.
The LAPD will also revise their Jail Operations Manual to include ”the proper processing, housing, custody and protection of transgender individuals,” the Transgender Law Center reported in a statement.
Masen Davis, executive director of the Transgender Law Center, applauded the move. ”This is a huge victory for transgender people who may interact with the police, and for transgender inmates,” Davis said a statement. ”It sets a great precedent for police departments nationwide. We often receive calls from people who have experienced police harassment and experienced violence in prison, so we are thrilled that the LAPD is taking steps to remedy this tragic situation.”
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