An Atlanta Police vehicle. Source: Wikimedia Commons

The Atlanta Police Department is changing the way its officers interact with Atlanta’s transgender community.

Atlanta Police Chief George Turner signed the new polices today.

“This important policy is a formal recognition that this community will be entitled to the same level of respect, courtesy and professionalism extended to all citizens with whom our officers interact,” Turner said in a press release. “We live in a diverse, major metropolitan city and our policies must reflect the need to embrace, and work cooperatively with, every citizen we serve within that broad community.”

Here is a list of APD’s new standard operating procedures:

·  Treating transgender, intersex and gender nonconforming individuals in a manner appropriate to the individual’s gender identity, which may be different from the sex that the individual was assigned at birth or listed on their official government-issued identification.

·  Using pronouns that match the gender identity of the individual (e.g., “she, her, hers” for an individual whose gender identity is female; “he, him, his” for an individual whose gender identity is male).

·  Regardless of the individual’s public appearance, classify an individual’s gender identity in accordance with statements or requests made by the individual.  For example, an employee will correct his or her initial assumption about an individual’s gender identity if the individual asks the employee to use different pronouns.

·  When requested, address transgender, intersex and gender nonconforming individuals by their chosen name rather than the name which is on their government-issued identification.

·   Employees searching or arresting a transgender, intersex or gender nonconforming individual, or performing similar official actions or duties (excluding preparation of written documents) in connection with a transgender, intersex or gender nonconforming individual, shall deem the individual’s gender to be male or female based upon the individual’s gender identity.

·   Employees making transport decisions regarding a transgender, intersex or gender nonconforming individual shall deem the individual’s gender to be male or female based upon the individual’s gender identity.