Toronto police hold community consultation on gender diversity, transgender inclusion policies

The Toronto Police Service (TPS) held its second community consultation on its gender diversity and trans-inclusion policies Wednesday.

The event is described as a chance for the public to have their say in divisional changes. Recently, the force issued new guidance on respecting trans and gender diverse people. It also gave mandatory training for all TPS employees.

“This is work coming out of a settlement of a human rights complaint that is looking at ways policy, procedure, and forums need to be amended to acknowledge trans people, including non-binary people,” says J Skelton, an external expert consultant on the project.

“We’re in the next two weeks launching training modules that all TPS employees will need to take,” says Skelton. “We’re shifting into the phase where we’re asking the community how we assess this work? How do we know that it’s having the impact we want it to have?”

In July 2015, Boyd Kodak, a trans man, alleged he was discriminated against based on “gender identity and expression by both the Toronto Police and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS).”

According to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Boyd alleged that he was “placed in the women’s sections of the police and correctional facilities.” He admits that he had his gender-affirming articles confiscated and was required to wear women’s institutional clothing in the correctional facility, at court and when he was released.

Boyd also says that he was exposed to harassment.

Boyd settled with the Toronto Police Service in 2016. It required the force to take significant steps to address the treatment of Trans people in police custody. Because of this ruling, the training is being mandated to all TPS employees.

During Wednesday’s consultation, Toronto’s top cop admitted more work must be done to create a more inclusive police force.

“This important work is ongoing, and we commit to doing better as we move forward,” says Toronto Police Chief James Ramer. “Throughout this journey, I hope that we can heal broken relationships, rebuild trust and step towards a new direction together.”

Toronto police are looking for the public’s feedback on its revised gender diversity and trans-inclusion policies.

TPS has launched a survey for public feedback. It is running until Wednesday, April 20, 2022.

The survey can be found here.