Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 212.01
Page 1 of 4
212.01
INTERACTIONS WITH TRANSGENDER AND GENDER DIVERSE PEOPLE
07-17-2023
PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to establish procedures for handling interactions with transgender and gender
diverse members of the public.
POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department (SPD’s) to treat all individuals with dignity and
respect.
GENERAL
A. DEFINITIONS
1. TRANSGENDER PERSON: An umbrella term for a person whose gender identity differs from their
assigned sex.
2. SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH : Refers to the sex a person was told they are at birth, usually determined
by an infant’s genitalia.
3. GENDER IDENTITY: A person’ s internal sense of self as it relates to gender - male, female, or a
multitude of other identities. How individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One’s
gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth.
4. CHOSEN/ADOPTED NAME: Non -birth name that a transgender or gender diverse individual uses in
self-reference (this may or may not be the individual’s legal name).
5. DEADNAME: Is the birth name of someone who has changed it. The term is often used by people w ho
are transgender and elect to go by their chosen name instead of their given name or “legal name” on a
government issued identification card.
6. GENDER EXPRESSION: How a person externally expresses their gender through behavior, clothing,
haircut, or voice, which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics
typically associated with being either masculine or feminine.
7. GENDER DIVERSE: A term to describe the spectrum of genders outside of the traditional binary
genders.
8. TRANSGENDE R WOMAN: A person whose sex assigned at birth was male but who understands
herself to be , and lives her life as , a woman.
9. TRANSGENDER MAN: A person whose sex assigned at birth was female but who understands himself
to be , and lives his life as , a man.
10. NON- BINARY/GENDER NON- CONFORMING: A person who does not identify as a man or woman,
but instead something in between or neither.
11. INTERSEX: People who possess or develop physical sex characteristics that do not fit into
conventional medical definitions of male or female. This can include chromosomes, genitals, hormones
and more.
12. SEXUAL ORIENTATION: A person's sexual identity in relation to the gender to which they are
attracted .
13. LGBTQ +: Is an acronym commonly used fo r Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning/Queer,
Intersex, Asexual.
14. CISGENDER PERSON: A term for a person whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth.
A person whose sex assigned at birth was female and who identifies themself to be and lives their life
as female is a cisgender woman. A person whose sex assigned at birth was male and who identifies
themself to be and lives their life as a man is a cisgender man.
15. ASEXUAL: A person who experiences little to no sexual attraction to anyone and/or does not
experience desire for sexual contact. Asexuality is a spectrum, and there are some people who may not
fit the strictest definition of the word asexual, but feel their experience aligns more with asexuality than
with other sexual orientati ons.
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 212.01
Page 2 of 4
B. NAME AND PRONOUN USAGE
1. SPD employees are to interact with people who are transgender and gender diverse in a manner that is
professional, respectful, and courteous.
2. Employees should follow these guidelines :
a. Address the public using names, pronouns, and titles of respect appropriat e to the individual’s
gender identity as expressed by the individual or when known (e.g., “she, her” for an individual who
requests she/her pronouns; “he, his” for an individual who requests he/his pronouns; “they, them”
for an individual who requests “the y/them” pronouns).
(1) The intentional and/ or persistent refusal to respect an individual’s gender identity (for example,
intentionally referring to the person by a name or pronoun that does not correspond to their
gender identity) constitutes harassment and violates department policy.
b. Respectfully treat trans gender and gender diverse individuals in a manner appropriate to the
individual’s gender identity and/or expression, which may be different from their sex assigned at
birth or what is listed on their official government -issued identification.
3. Employees should be aware that individuals’ names may change over time, whether due to marriage,
changes in gender identity, or other factors, and should use the name currently used by individuals.
a. Every individual has the right to be addressed by the nam e and pronoun that correspond s to their
gender identity or expression. Proof of a court -ordered name, gender change or updated formal
identification is not required. E mployees should politely and respectfully ask how the person wishes
to be addressed, for instance, “What name and pronouns would you prefer I use when I address
you?” or options consistent with training in the Sacramento Police Department’s gender awareness
class.
b. Whether or not the name on a person’s driver license or identification card coi ncides with