Trans police officer turned away from trans memorial event because of uniform
A transgender police officer was turned away from an LGBT event because she was wearing her uniform.
The event in San Diego was set up to mark the annual Transgender Say of Awareness.
Christine Garcia was one of the first officers to come out as transgender and helped to plan the event as she arranged and helped with the security during a commemorative march.
The march ended with an event at the LGBT community centre, where she was turned away because her uniform could have upset some people in attendance.
Leaders of the centre have since apologised for the to Garcia and said it was a misunderstanding.
The chief exectuive of the centre, Delores Jacobs, said: “We do not wish to ever make any community member feel unwelcome … these officers are valued members of our community.”
“While we need to support those that are uncomfortable and honour their reactions to valid and understandable difficult previous experiences, we also need to explain that our LGBTQ San Diego police liaisons are a valued part of our community,” Jacobs added.
City Commissioner Nicole Murray-Ramirez called the incident an outrage.
“Any officer, be they gay or straight, should be welcomed into our community centre in uniform. They protect our community and neighbourhoods and make San Diego a better place.”
Police Department have been working to repair relations with the LGBT community in the past few years, and Murray-Ramirez credits figures like Garcia for the improvements made.
“They’ve really reached out to the community. They’ve gotten to know the community. There are always rotten apples, but on a whole we have progressed greatly. And we’re very appreciative of them and that progress.”
The transgender cop has opened up in the past about coming out to 1800 police officers.
