Lakeview Action Coalition (LAC), the organization that began work on a transgender general order for the Chicago Police Department two years ago, will talk about its progress on making the order a reality at its upcoming Action Assembly, Sunday, May 6.
The Action Assembly is an annual event during which LAC asks local politicians and other leaders to support its initiatives. Among this year's topics is closing corporate loopholes, access to charity medical care, affordable housing in Lincoln Park and the implementation of a transgender policy for CPD.
The trans policy has become a hot-button topic in recent weeks as local LGBT groups have faced off over supporting a city ordinance that would mandate the policy. Some groups feel that the proposed ordinance, introduced to City Council in March, lacks oversight that would make it enforceable.
LAC has been working on the general order with police independently.
Jennifer Ritter, executive director of LAC, said that she is confident that the general order will be achieved.
"People need to be mobilized around the importance of a good general order," she said, stressing that "good" is the operative word.
Ritter believes that the order will only be effective if it allows transgender detainees to self-identify and choose where they are placed when arrested. Transgender people are often placed in facilities where they could be subjected to violence because of their gender identities.
On Sunday, LAC will make the case for the general order as well as other goals to U.S. Rep. Danny Davis; state Senate President John Cullerton; state Rep. Greg Harris; Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle; and Ald. Ameya Pawar, James Cappleman and Scott Waguespack, among others.
The meeting will be open to the public, but there will not be an open mic. The assembly will take place at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 2335 N. Orchard St., 2-3:30 p.m.
