A transgender policy quietly adopted by the Chicago Police Department last August has been a sore spot for activists because the policy fell short of their hopes.
A March 9 discussion on the policy showed they are not alone in their concerns.
A group of about 30 young people attended a discussion on the policy at Center on Halsted, hosted by The Civil Rights Agenda (TCRA).
Overwhelmingly, youth in room appeared unimpressed with the new general order.
Anthony Martinez, TCRA executive director, summarized the policy and talked about its shortcomings.
The general order puts forth guidelines for officers dealing with transgender people. Among other things, it mandates that transgender identity not to be seen as cause for suspicion of a crime and that police use preferred names and pronouns with transgender detainees.
But the general order largely fell short of activist expectations, after more than two years of work on it with CPD.
Activists have lamented that the order lacks oversight and is overly-reliant on government-issued identification and genitalia in determining gender.
"There's no accountability for this policy," Martinez explained.
Among its most troubling aspects, said Martinez, is that the policy orders that all transgender arrestees be transported from local stations to Central booking at 18th and State.
"They take all wigs, any high heels," said Martinez. "They take all of your jewelry and any personal items that you have on you."
Martinez noted that when transgender people are released at 18th and State, it is without money or personal items, sometimes including shoes. They must return to where they were arrested to collect those items.
Young people in the audience took issue with that reality. Other young people questioned what assurance Martinez had that the policy would be obeyed by officers. Martinez said he had no assurance.
But, he said, he plans to addressed those concerns and others in upcoming meetings with CPD.
But some young people also disparaged the route taken by activists, questioning Martinez on why youth were not included in those meetings.
One young person said that youth regularly attend informational meetings, but that youth seldom get a voice in policies that most-directly impact them.
Martinez said that meetings in the future could include youth.
Precious Davis of Center on Halsted moderated a Q & A session following the presentation.