Vancouver Police Discriminated Against Transgender People: Human Rights Tribunal

VANCOUVER - The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has ruled Vancouver police must find better ways to deal with transgender people after officers called a trans woman by male pronouns and failed to provide post-surgery care in jail.

A decision released Tuesday ordered the Vancouver Police Board to pay Angela Dawson $15,000 for injuries to her dignity, feelings and self-respect.

Tribunal member Catherine McCreary also said the force committed "systemic discrimination" over how it identified transgender people and must now adopt new policies within a year.

"Ms. Dawson testified that, when the police refer to her as (her legal name) Jeffrey or use male gender pronouns, it makes her feel embarrassed and humiliated," wrote McCreary.

"She thinks that, when the police treat her as a male, it gives other people the right to treat her as a male, to pick on her, and to humiliate her."

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, who is chair of the police board, said in a statement that he will be reviewing the decision with the department.

"The City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Police Department have the highest level of respect and appreciation for our city's remarkable diversity, and a firm commitment to protect the rights and freedoms of the LGBTTQ community and all Vancouver residents," he said.

Dawson filed the complaint after several run-ins with police in Vancouver, where she is known as "Rollergirl," as she likes to direct traffic while wearing rollerblades.

While McCreary dismissed several of her complaints, she found that police engaged in discrimination twice in 2010.

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Vancouver Police Discriminated Against Transgender People: Human Rights Tribunal