A Georgia police department that recently fired an officer for confronting a biological male in a women’s restroom is now requiring all officers to undergo LGBTQ-focused sensitivity training, according to newly obtained documents.
The DeKalb County Police Department will begin mandatory training sessions later this month as part of a program titled “LGBTQIA+ Awareness & Sensitivity Training.” Materials for the course were obtained through a public records request filed under the Georgia Open Records Act.
The one-hour course will introduce officers to concepts associated with transgender ideology, including the idea that biological sex is “assigned at birth” and that sex exists on a spectrum rather than as a fixed biological characteristic.
Training materials also instruct officers on the use of gender pronouns, including referring to individuals as “they/them.” One slide in the presentation states that refusing to use a person’s preferred pronouns is equivalent to intentionally causing emotional harm.
The course further advises officers not to ask transgender individuals what their “real name” is and suggests that suspects should be allowed to select the gender designation recorded in police reports.
According to department officials, the training will be offered roughly eight times per month until all sworn personnel complete the program. With nearly 600 officers in the department, officials estimate the training will cost taxpayers between $25,000 and $30,000 in work hours.
The program has drawn criticism from some observers who say the material goes beyond professional conduct training and promotes politically contested ideas.
Evolutionary biologist Colin Wright, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute who reviewed the materials, said the course introduces concepts rooted in activist ideology rather than objective law enforcement guidance.
“I don’t think we should be indoctrinating our officers into highly politicized worldviews,” Wright said, arguing that the training amounts to compelled speech.
Supporters of LGBTQ training programs in law enforcement say such courses help officers interact respectfully with diverse communities and avoid legal risks.
Greg Miraglia, a veteran law enforcement trainer and founder of the nonprofit Out To Protect, said officers are often reminded during training that their personal beliefs remain their own but that they must treat all individuals equally under the law.
“You’re entitled to your beliefs,” Miraglia said. “But when you put on the badge, your job is to provide equal protection under the law.”
DeKalb County Police leaders declined interview requests about the program but issued a written statement saying the training reflects modern law enforcement practices.
“The class reflects our proactive approach to modern law enforcement training and our responsibility to ensure officers understand the communities they serve,” the department said in a statement.
The training program follows a controversial incident involving reserve officer Glen Weaver, a 28-year veteran of law enforcement who was dismissed in December.
Weaver confronted a transgender library patron in a women’s restroom at a DeKalb County library after receiving a complaint from a mother who said a man was in the restroom while she was there with her children.
County officials said Weaver violated department policy during the incident, including failing to activate his body camera and not properly receiving authorization for off-duty work at the library.
DeKalb County passed a local ordinance in 2023 prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity, and the county library system allows individuals to use restrooms that align with their gender identity.
County leaders have described the incident as a “teachable moment” and emphasized the importance of training officers to interact professionally with all members of the public.
According to the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, the state agency that certifies law enforcement officers, the DeKalb training program was approved for official training credit months before the restroom incident occurred.
The council noted that while it reviews training programs for compliance with state rules, it does not endorse any political or ideological viewpoints that may appear in the materials.
