A new Department of Justice video aims to give police officers a working knowledge of transgender issues and terminology in an effort to quash potentially tense situations before they arise.
The 12-minute video, “Law Enforcement and the Transgender Community,” examines three “non-emergency, non-crisis” routine situations in which cops may interact with trans people: a traffic stop, an alleged assault and a public restroom. Produced by the Justice Department’s Community Relations Service (CRS), the clip, which was released Thursday, features re-enactments that offer tips and suggestions on how officers can do their job professionally and with respect for the person’s gender identity.
“In order to be safe and effective, officers must be able to distinguish between a threat and a stereotype,” Sgt. Brett Parson, who has been a longtime liaison between the LGBT community and the Washington, D.C. police department, says in the video. “Just being transgender isn’t a reason to suspect a crime. So, as you can see, there’s an enormous need to repair this trust.”
The video’s release couldn’t come at a more appropriate time. A 2011 survey conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality and National LGBTQ Task Force found that 46 percent of trans people said they felt uncomfortable seeking police assistance because of their gender identity. The video itself presents harrowing statistics, too. Parsons points out that one in four trans people claim to have been the victim of an assault because of who they are.
Meanwhile, the ongoing debate over so-called “bathroom bills,” which effectively bar trans people from using public restrooms THAT align with their gender identity, have brought these issues to the national stage. That’s all the more reason that trans people “deserve to be treated with courtesy and respect” by law enforcement, CRS’s Acting Director Paul Monteiro said in a statement on the Department of Justice’s official website.
No doubt it will take some time for these practices to catch on at the national level, but this video is a great step in the right direction. Well done, DOJ.
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