The Pennsylvania State Police last month ended its practice of reporting anti-transgender hate crimes by using “female-portrayal” or “male-portrayal” descriptors.
In an email, Cpl. Adam Reed, a state-police spokesperson, said the practice ended July 27.
“[W]e regret this oversight and apologize for the terminology,” Reed said. “We are committed to working with the LGBT community and will continue our efforts.”
State police collect hate-crime data from local police departments throughout Pennsylvania and convey the data to the FBI. State police also display hate-crimes data on the agency’s website.
Last year, state police reported an anti-trans hate crime in Philadelphia using a “female-portrayal” descriptor.
No other state-police agency uses such a descriptor when reporting anti-trans hate crimes. Additionally, the FBI doesn’t recommend the use of such a descriptor.
Trans people said the descriptor denied their humanity, was insulting and discouraged trans people from reporting hate crimes.
Last month, state police deleted the entire hate crime at issue from its website, rather than limiting the deletion to the “female-portrayal” descriptor.
On Aug. 1, after questioned by PGN, the hate crime reappeared on the state-police website, but without the “female-portrayal” descriptor.
“The [entirely deleted] information was corrected to reflect the proper number [of hate crimes in Philadelphia],” Reed explained. “In addition, steps were taken to ensure the error doesn’t occur again.”
Julie Chovanes, a Philadelphia-based trans attorney, applauded the policy change.
“As a trans person, and an attorney who’s represented the community, I applaud the state police for removing the offensive language,” Chovanes told PGN. “I hope this change will encourage police to expand their understanding of the hate crimes that trans people suffer every day. And I also hope this will encourage the community to step forward when they’re victimized.”