The St. Paul Police Department in St. Paul, Minn., hosted a community meeting Tuesday night and unveiled its draft of policy concerning interactions with transgender and gender nonconforming individuals – the first time they have ever done this. The policy, titled “Interactions with Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Individuals in the Community,” claims to emphasize the importance of treating everyone with respect and dignity, which should be a given in law enforcement training already.
While there’s undoubtedly some pure motives behind this, it’s unfortunate to see such considerable time, effort, and funds used to placate the LGBTQ lobby which still remains a vocal but small percentage of the U.S. population.
CBS Minnesota reports: “Among the features of the policy is the requirement for personnel to use preferred pronounced and adopted names. Officers are not allowed to remove appearance-related items such as wigs or cosmetic items. Also, barring specific circumstances, individuals are allowed to request a preference of officer gender for searches.”
The Star Tribune reported that the police department created an online portal for residents to submit feedback on the policy, but still some folks didn’t think the efforts were enough and nitpicked the language. “Bryana Smith, chairperson of the Minnesota Transgender Alliance, said she didn’t appreciate the policy’s definition of gender nonconforming as people ‘assumed to be lesbian, gay or bisexual’ because ‘a person’s sexual preference is not based off their gender identity.’” No particular incident prompted these changes.
It’s one thing to advocate law enforcement treat everyone regardless of race, religion, or “gender identity” with respect and dignity, it’s quite another to make special allowances and additional effort for a particular group of people, beyond what is necessary. The LGBTQ lobby has spearheaded efforts so that they, as a collective, want not just equality but entitlement. So not only will it be wrong for anyone to express a different opinion about “gender identity” but they will actually advocate, and receive, better treatment.
Where is the same community gathering vowing to treat the 75,000 Somalis that live in the Twin Cities with respect? Or the small percentage of Minnesotans who practice Buddhism? Following perceived tenants of political correctness will likely not make anyone safer, but rather spend taxpayers’ time and resources unnecessarily.
Nicole Russell (@russell_nm) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. She is a journalist who previously worked in Republican politics in Minnesota.
