Philadelphia police must address members of the public using their chosen names and pronouns, regardless of what is listed on their government ID cards. The Philadelphia Police Department's new directive went into effect in March 2019 and was announced Tuesday. The policies serve as a guide for officers while interacting with transgender or non-binary individuals; they cover everything from information given during the individual's arrest to release of information to the media.
According to the Philadelphia police, Directive 4.15 is essentially meant to protect the constitutional rights of all people, regardless of "race, color, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religious creed, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry or disability."
For example, to respect the individual's gender expression, the policy states that the officer can respectfully ask the person: "What pronoun do you use?" — and then use the pronoun correctly. When recording the individual's name, the officer will write the name as it appears on the individual’s ID card. If the person identifies with a different name, it will be placed in the alias box on the paperwork.
A 2013 report from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs stated that transgender people were 3.32 times more likely to experience police violence and 2.46 times as likely to experience physical violence by police when compared to cisgender survivors and victims. The report also states that transgender people of color were 2.59 times as likely to experience police violence and 2.37 times as likely to experience discrimination when compared to white cisgender survivors and victims.
“The directive offers a clear guide for unbiased day-to-day interactions with transgender and non-binary people, as well as individuals who are being detained or transported," the police department said in a statement, according to CBS Philly. "The directive also includes terminology definitions that offer language usage clarity to support respectful interactions."
The guidelines also cover transportation, detention and processing. For example, transgender arrestees will be transported separately by prisoner transport van, but with an officer of their gender identity, when possible. Transgender people who are in custody will also be able to be transported to the nearest medical facility to address immediate medical needs, such as hormone therapy.
"Fifty years ago, the pioneers of our movement literally fought back against police brutality at the Stonewall Inn," Amber Hikes, the executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs for the City of Philadelphia, said in an Instagram post on Tuesday, referring to the demonstrations by the LGBTQ community against a police raid that took place in June 1969 at the Stonewall Inn bar, an important event leading to the gay liberation movement.
"Just days from the 50th anniversary of those historic nights, we honor the early activism of trans, non-binary and GNC folks and recommit ourselves to ensuring that all Philadelphians receive the respect, dignity, and protections they so deeply deserve. That is our responsibility. That is our commitment."
