New LGBTQ Training for Police starts 2019

A new law signed, that Gov. Jerry Brown signed this week, requires police officers to undergo training on sexual orientation and gender identity in order to better deal with minority groups in the state of California.

Assembly Bill 2504 requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to develop a training course with input from “sexual orientation and gender identity minority members of law enforcement and the community who have expertise in the area of sexual orientation and gender identity.” The group must have at least one male member, one female member, and one transgender member.

The existing law already requires law enforcement training on racial and cultural differences. Entry-level officers are required to undergo 24 hours of cultural diversity training and 8 hours of disability awareness training.

Several groups joined us in supporting the bill including Equity California, Indivisible Sacramento, Matthew Shepard Foundation, Rainbow Chamber, and Transgender Community of Police & Sheriffs.

The training must include:

• Understanding the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity
• Knowing the words used to identify and describe both sexual orientation and gender identity
• How to create an inclusive workplace within law enforcement for those groups
• Information on important milestones in history relating to sexual orientation and gender identity minorities and law enforcement
• Ways for law enforcement to respond to domestic violence and hate crime cases involving sexual orientation and gender identity minorities

The Department of Justice says hate crimes involving LGBT people are the second most common bias motivation, according the the Senate’s analysis of AB 2504.

The commission also will require peace officers be trained on how to respond to incidents involving LGBTQ people.

As the Sacramento LGBT Community Center continues to advocate for LGBTQ training, support, access, and inclusion in all parts of life, we want to hear from our community where else our voice is needed. Contact us with your stories and insights of where legislation should be changed or a inequality is being manifested. We are here to support you and we believe you.

Email: Media@saccenter.org with any information you think would help us better advocate for you.

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