Edmonton Police Human Rights Complaint Dismissed Despite Discrimination Findings

A complaint against Edmonton police for misgendering a transgender woman was dismissed, but discrimination was acknowledged by the Alberta Human Rights Commission.

Edmonton Police Human Rights Complaint Dismissed Despite Discrimination Findings
Edmonton Police Human Rights Complaint Dismissed Despite Discrimination Findings

Edmonton: A human rights complaint against the Edmonton police has been dismissed. It was about a transgender woman who was misgendered by 911 dispatchers.

The Alberta Human Rights Commission found that while there was discrimination, the dispatchers did manage to get the caller the help they needed. Marni Panas, a 2SLGBTQ+ advocate, filed the complaint after a wellness check request in April 2019.

She mentioned that dispatchers repeatedly called her “sir” and “buddy,” even after she corrected them. Despite the dismissal, Panas feels satisfied with the outcome. She said it was crucial to have the acknowledgment of discrimination in writing.

Panas noted, “I could’ve settled this years ago. This wasn’t about me; it was bigger than me.” The Edmonton Police Service acknowledged the incident should not have happened and expressed regret for the hurt caused. They also committed to improving their inclusive service and updating their training as necessary.

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