Policy Text
San Francisco Police Department DGO 5.22
GENERAL ORDER Eff. 10/ 03/18
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Interacting with Transgender, Gender -Variant, and
Nonbinary Individuals
5.22.01
PURPOSE
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) recognizes and places a high priority on the rights
of all people. This policy esta blishes a procedure for interacting with T ransgender, Gender -
Variant and N onbinary (TGN) individuals.
5.22.02
POLICY
It is the policy of the San Francisco Police Department to treat all persons, whether in custody or
not, in a respectful, professional and reasonable manner while maintaining safety and security.
Discrimination or harassment of any kind based on actual or perceived gender, gender identity
and or gender expression is strictly prohibited. The gender identity of all persons, including
members, shall be respected. Referring to a person by their adopted name and treating them in
accordance to their gender identi ty are examples of appropriate treatment; even if they are not
legally recognized as such per documentation. Conversations with and regarding the TGN
individual shall also conform to these standards.
5.22.03
DEFINITIONS
Gender: Gender is the social construct used to classify a person as ma n, woman, both or neither.
Gender encompasses all relational aspects of social identity, psychological identity and human
behavior. Gender includes a person's gender identity and gender expression.
Gender Id entity: An individual’s sense of being either male, female, both or neither . This may
be different from what is traditionally associated with the individual’s assigned sex at birth.
Gender Expression: Gender related traits that may or may not be consisten t with those traits
typically associated with a person’s assigned sex at birth. External manifestations of gender,
expressed through one’s name, pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body
characteristics.
Transgender ( Individual): An umbrella t erm for persons whose gender identity, gender
expression, or behavior does not conform to that typically associated with the sex they were
assigned at birth.
DGO 5.22
Eff. 10/ 03/18
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Gender- Variant : A person whose gender identity or gender expression does not conform to
socially defined male or female gender norms .
Nonbinary (Individual): Nonbinary is a n umbrella term for people with gender identities that
fall somewhere outside of the traditional conceptions of strictly either female or male. People
with nonbinary gender identities may or may not use more specific terms to describe their
genders, such as agender, genderqueer, gender fluid, t wo spirit, bigender, pangender, gender
nonconforming, or gender variant.
TGN: An acronym for T ransgender, G ender -Variant, and/or N onbinary person. TGN is utilized
for ease of reading this policy and for consistency in communication with the San Francisco
Sheriff Department; which utilizes the TGN acronym in their policies.
Intersex : Intersex individuals are born with chromosomes, external genitalia, and/or a
reproductive system that varies from what is considered “standard” for either males or females.
This condition may not become apparent until later in life, such as during puberty. Intersex
individuals may identify as male, female or nonbinary.
Sexual Orientation: A person's romantic and/or physical attraction to people of a specific
gender or genders.
5.22.04
PROCEDURES
A. Identification
TGN individuals may be identified in the following ways:
1. A person informs a member that they are TGN.
2. A member has reason to believe the individual may be TGN. This may be based on
gender -expression, prior interactions, and/or background checks.
When a member is unsure if an individual is T GN, the m ember should respectfully ask the
individual how they identify in terms of gender ; if they identify as transgender, gender -variant, or
nonbinary and proceed accordingly.
If a situation impedes the opportunity to access a person’s TGN status; use gender n eutral terms
and/or omit using Sir/ Mr., Ma’am/ Ms. i.e. “ You need to step back, please.” Or “Folks, please
step back.” Referring to a person as “It” or other derogatory language is dehumanizing and subject
to disciplinary action.
Nothing in this policy p rohibits an officer from considering factors such as actual or perceived
gender identity in combination with other legitimate factors (i.e., weight, age, height, dress, etc.)
when obtaining or providing the description of a suspect , victim or witness .
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B. Name Usage and Forms of Address
Members shall address T GN individuals by their preferred name and by pronouns appropriate to
their gender identity such as he, she or they. The perception of disrespect, usually arising from use
of names and pronouns that do not correspond with a TGN individual’s gender identity, is the
leading cause of complaints against law enforcement by TGN individuals.
Members shall not make assumptions about an individual’s sexual orientation based upon an
individual’s gender expression or identity.
C. Inves tigative Stops
Members shall handle or inves tigate calls for service or complaints generated by T GN individuals
in the manner consistent with Department policy.
Except when legally necessary, (e.g., citing an arrestee), members shall not require proof of an
individual’s gender and