Ald. Moreno Introduces Transgender Ordinance

By Chuck Sudo in News on Mar 15, 2012 7:00PM

Yesterday's City Council meeting was a busy one. Among the many ordinances introduced was one by 1st Ward Ald. Proco "Joe" Moreno that, if passed, would help smooth problems within the Chicago Police Department in handling transgender detainees.

The ordinance is the result of two years of work with local LGBT advocacy groups. The Lakeview Action Coalition first started lobbying for an ordinance after they received reports of a transgender woman who claimed she was arrested for soliciting sex from a police officer; she was actually grocery shopping.

The Chicago LGBT Citywide Coalition, consisting of 30 local organizations lobbying for LGBT issues, also lobbied for the ordinance, while LAC worked on the policy itself.

The ordinance calls for the city's Human Relations and Public Safety committees to oversee the enforcement of Police Department's relations with transgender detainees. Moreno calls the ordinance a human rights issue intended to address a "hole in the policy of the police of Chicago."

He also said he expects the ordinance to pass after meetings with transgender advocates, but allowed there is "some education to do out on the (Council) floor."