The D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) was forced to issue an apologetic statement after some of their employees “mis-gendered” transgender attendees at a pool party over the weekend.
An advocate with The National Center for Transgender Equality threw a “Trans Pool Party” for transgender people to celebrate the “beauty, diversity, and resilience of the trans community” at the DPR, reports the DCist.
During the party, a DPR employee allegedly referred to the trans people, including a Metropolitan police officer, by the wrong gender. A DPR employee also apparently directed MPD officer Sgt. Jessica Hawkins, to the wrong bathroom, a trans activist said.
Rebecca Kling, the organizer of the party, maintained that she and Hawkins approached the manager about the incident, who apologized to them. “I think this weekend both showed how there’s great progress and still important room to grow,” Kling said.
The DPR released a remorseful statement after being contacted by the DCist for a comment on the situation.
“We take all concerns seriously, and we address them immediately. DPR has and will continue to train employees regarding sensitivity to LGBTQ guests,” The DPR said. “We continue to work with our employees as much as possible to ensure there is no confusion or stereotyping our transgender or other guests. We will continue to work with the community and we want every DPR facility to be a welcoming experience for all guests.”
The incident comes a year after the DPR promised to put their employees through sensitivity training after a similar situation. An employee referred to a transgender woman by the wrong gender, prompting the DPR’s executive director to assure people that staffers would undergo special training on transgender bathroom laws and revising how complaints are filed.
“I deeply regret what took place, and if the staff were better equipped, this would be a different conversation, if one at all. This is an opportunity to make sure that everyone feels welcome and no one thinks twice about going into a DPR facility,” executive director Keith Anderson said last year.
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