Trans woman’s treatment by London police jeopardizes trust with LGBTQ2S+ community
The questions keep mounting for London police about an alleged swatting incident and how officers treated a popular online transgender activist.
“The (LGBTQ2S+) community reaction is one of disbelief, there’s a lot of anger, there’s a lot of disappointment,” explains Christa Duvall, director of PFLAG London.
Those feelings stem from how police behaved towards a transgender woman during an investigation last week.
On Friday, Aug. 5, transgender activist Clara Sorrenti awoke to heavily armed officers at her downtown residence.
She was eventually released by police without charge— believing she was a victim of a ‘swatting’ — when someone makes a false threat to draw a large police response to an unsuspecting victim’s home.
But during her time in custody, Sorrenti’s birth name, also known as a ‘dead name,’ was used by officers— despite having had it legally changed.
Police officers also admit to using an incorrect gender.
On Wednesday, police Chief Steve Williams provided a written statement saying, “It has come to my attention that Ms. Sorrenti was referred to during her time in London police custody by an incorrect name and gender. We acknowledge the distress this has caused Ms. Sorrenti and we will be reviewing the occurrence to understand how that might have happened.”
However, Duvall believes Sorrenti’s experience has exposed ongoing problems in the relationship between London police and the local LGBTQ2S+ community.
“A number of trans people who have contacted me in the last three days and said this isn’t anything new. This happens to people in our community on a weekly basis. We don’t feel safe. It’s just brought it to light now,” explains Duvall.
On Thursday, Chief Williams once again refused to be interviewed by CTV News about the mounting concerns.
The lingering questions and written statement have drawn criticism from around the world after being posted on Twitter.
Despite a decision by police to disable replies to their tweet— outrage still poured in from around the world:
- “This is a garbage response just so full of fake PR spin. It’s no wonder you turned off replies. (Which is a sign of guilt by the way)” @ReyosB
- “Nothing says truth and transparency like restricting and hiding replies. You know what is transparent? Your cowardice and your complicity” @EndedMoon
“People are really going to pause before contacting the police now, because it’s not a safe place to our (LGBTQ2S+) folks,” worries Duvall after suggesting this week represents 50 steps backwards after years of effort to strengthen trust.
Duvall believes Chief Williams should publicly apologize and commit to real change through enhanced training for officers about how to work with the LGBTQ2+ community.
“Not training every year, not training every five years,” Duvall said. “I think this is something that has to happen quarterly.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
'I just want to be safe': Ukrainian man in Canada faces limbo amid consular freeze
A recent decision to restrict consular services for fighting-aged Ukrainian men has made a Ukrainian man in Canada feel less certain of his next steps — and worried he could be pulled back to the war.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Dozens of U.S. deaths reveal risks of injecting sedatives into people restrained by police
The practice of giving sedatives to people detained by police has spread quietly across the U.S. over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts, an investigation led by The Associated Press has found.