zombola
03-26-2015, 12:38 PM
Transgender woman Dawson filed human rights complaint after police referred to her as a man
http://i.cbc.ca/1.3009873.1427329648!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_300/angela-dawson.jpg
Angela Dawson, a transgender woman known to many Vancouverites as "Roller Girl," has won a B.C. Human Rights Tribunal case against Vancouver police, who referred to her as "Jeffrey."
Dawson, who was born with the legal name Jeffrey Allan Dawson, claimed she was entitled to be treated as a woman by police, but that in six separate incidents with police, she was mistreated and identified as a man.
Vancouver Police Board has now been ordered to pay Dawson $15,000 as damages for "injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect," after the tribunal found the treatment she received amounted to discrimination on the basis of her sex.
Dawson's lawyer Lindsay Lyster said she and her client are both pleased with the outcome.
"I think that the decision sends a very strong message that trans people must be treated with equal dignity and respect," Lyster said, "and that in particular, police officers — whom the tribunal recognizes have a very difficult job — need to be provided with the support by their own police department to ensure that they can deal with trans people appropriately and without discrimination."
'Roller Girl' well known in Vancouver
Dawson is a familiar face in downtown Vancouver and on the city's Downtown Eastside, where she can often be spotted in her trademark bright pink outfits and big headphones, whizzing around on pink rollerblades.
According to the tribunal's ruling, Dawson has an extensive criminal history, involving violence, drugs and fraud and has previously been convicted of manslaughter and spent at least 10 years in a male penitentiary.
Vancouver police have had numerous encounters with Dawson on the Downtown Eastside, and she has been occasionally ticketed for trying to direct traffic.
The tribunal found that once Dawson informed officers that she was a transgender female and was not treated as such, that was considered discrimination on the basis of sex.
Vancouver Police Board has also been ordered to adopt policies within the next year that recognize and prevent discrimination of identification of transgender people.
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, who is chair of the police board, said in a statement that he will be reviewing the decision with the department.
“The City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Police Department have the highest level of respect and appreciation for our city’s remarkable diversity, and a firm commitment to protect the rights and freedoms of the LGBTTQ community and all Vancouver residents,” he said.
Vancouver police Const. Brian Montague said the department will carefully review the decision to ensure the safety of anyone in custody remains a top priority. He said being sensitive to how transgender people identify is very important.
"Our officers are hired and trained based on some fundamental core values," he said.
"One of those core values is respect, and we expect our officers to be respectful of each and every one of the hundreds of people they encounter on a daily basis."
cbc,ca
http://i.cbc.ca/1.3009873.1427329648!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_300/angela-dawson.jpg
Angela Dawson, a transgender woman known to many Vancouverites as "Roller Girl," has won a B.C. Human Rights Tribunal case against Vancouver police, who referred to her as "Jeffrey."
Dawson, who was born with the legal name Jeffrey Allan Dawson, claimed she was entitled to be treated as a woman by police, but that in six separate incidents with police, she was mistreated and identified as a man.
Vancouver Police Board has now been ordered to pay Dawson $15,000 as damages for "injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect," after the tribunal found the treatment she received amounted to discrimination on the basis of her sex.
Dawson's lawyer Lindsay Lyster said she and her client are both pleased with the outcome.
"I think that the decision sends a very strong message that trans people must be treated with equal dignity and respect," Lyster said, "and that in particular, police officers — whom the tribunal recognizes have a very difficult job — need to be provided with the support by their own police department to ensure that they can deal with trans people appropriately and without discrimination."
'Roller Girl' well known in Vancouver
Dawson is a familiar face in downtown Vancouver and on the city's Downtown Eastside, where she can often be spotted in her trademark bright pink outfits and big headphones, whizzing around on pink rollerblades.
According to the tribunal's ruling, Dawson has an extensive criminal history, involving violence, drugs and fraud and has previously been convicted of manslaughter and spent at least 10 years in a male penitentiary.
Vancouver police have had numerous encounters with Dawson on the Downtown Eastside, and she has been occasionally ticketed for trying to direct traffic.
The tribunal found that once Dawson informed officers that she was a transgender female and was not treated as such, that was considered discrimination on the basis of sex.
Vancouver Police Board has also been ordered to adopt policies within the next year that recognize and prevent discrimination of identification of transgender people.
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, who is chair of the police board, said in a statement that he will be reviewing the decision with the department.
“The City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Police Department have the highest level of respect and appreciation for our city’s remarkable diversity, and a firm commitment to protect the rights and freedoms of the LGBTTQ community and all Vancouver residents,” he said.
Vancouver police Const. Brian Montague said the department will carefully review the decision to ensure the safety of anyone in custody remains a top priority. He said being sensitive to how transgender people identify is very important.
"Our officers are hired and trained based on some fundamental core values," he said.
"One of those core values is respect, and we expect our officers to be respectful of each and every one of the hundreds of people they encounter on a daily basis."
cbc,ca