New Guidelines Issued to Philadelphia Police Regarding Transgender Persons

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police have issued new guidelines on how officers should treat transgender people, a policy that department officials say is to ensure everyone is treated with respect.

The policy requires police to address transgender people by their chosen names, whether it's their legal name or not, and to include their chosen names on all police paperwork, reported KYW-AM.

The policy also gives transgender criminal suspects the right to request to be frisked by an officer whose gender is of their choosing, and the right to be transported and held in a cell separately from other detainees whenever possible.

Ted Martin, executive director of Equality Pennsylvania, applauds the effort and hopes other police departments in Pennsylvania follow Philadelphia's lead.