While there are quite a few trans police officers in the United States — and, apparently, in many countries all over the world — Jan Hamilton has the honor of becoming Scotland’s first “transgender” police officer.
While I’m not fond of the headline of this article about Ms. Hamilton — “Sex Change Army Hero Jan to Become Scotland’s First ‘Transgender’ Police Officer” — I found the rest of it to be surprisingly polite.
While the headline screams sensationalism, the article itself reads as almost matter-of-fact, recounting Hamilton’s military career, her desire to join the police force, and what she had to do to become an officer. It comes across as very positive to me.
In addition, Hamilton has received the full support and backing of the police department, which is impressive. And it’s not as if she was on the force for many years and then decided to transition — she has pursued a law enforcement career as an openly trans woman.
But one of the most interesting things about Hamilton is that it appears that she began her transition while still in the military:
“In 2007 Miss Hamilton, as Britain’s first transsexual paratrooper, took the Army to an industrial tribunal on grounds of sex discrimination for its refusal to acknowledge her legally enforced female status.
She won her case and later received a written apology. Since then she has undergone a remarkable physical transformation.”
She won her case and received a written apology? Only in the UK! I guess everyone is polite over there. Can you imagine the U.S. military doing that? Umm, would that be before or after they gave you a dishonorable discharge and took away your pension?
The tone of this article, and the fact that so many trans men and women around the world are pursuing or remaining in law enforcement careers after transition, is a very positive development, in my opinion. Law enforcement tends to be a macho, good-old-boy profession, and a growing acceptance of trans people hopefully signals a trend that will lead to better treatment of trans people by the police overall.
The Sylvia Rivera Law Project reports that trans people are disproportionately incarcerated and that “Trans and gender non-conforming people, particularly trans women of color, are regularly profiled and falsely arrested for doing nothing more than walking down the street.”
Hopefully, people like Jan Hamilton of Scotland and our men and women in blue in the United States and elsewhere (they’re probably not all in blue!) can change this. Safety is a right that everyone should have — in equal proportions.
It makes me feel better to know that we have trans officers out there “protecting and serving.”
Now I have to visit Scotland
i saw this documentary on swedish television last night and i really hope Jan is happy now and likes her self. The last thing they said and the last thing we could se on tv was the surgery were he/she removed his penis. Then the documentary ended so we were not told how he did afterwards. I feel very sorry for Jan somehow and hopes that she is happy.
There was a documentary about Jan’s transition. She was forced into the public eye by the media so was obliged to tell her own story, all such stories are different but this one was quite remarkable. Only wish she was going to work on my coast and not the west.
To anonymous Hamilton,
I didn’t put Jan in the news or on the Internet. She was already there. She was already being reported on, which is how I found out about her. I’m sorry that your family has suffered from Jan’s media exposure, but I did not have anything to do with that. From what I have seen, she strikes me as a very strong and wonderful woman, and I hope that others will come to see her in that way and that family and friends will remain supportive.
do u know how many lives u have made hell from this u have recked my family because oh this and u havent ever talked or seen me before wow i thought my family was fucked before but know it really is!!!
from:*****-**** hamilton!
saw the documentry and found it interesting, good luck to her,
however I understand she sued the British army and they settled out of court for 1/2 millon quid,
as a police officer she will certainly come up against macho and bigoted male police officers who will give her a hard time,can we then expect another court case and large compensation payout for humiliation and hurt feelings.
watch this space
I hope you enjoyed the party.
Hi Jan,
I’m just watching your documentary and I really wanted to say I got great respect for you! I can’t believe people are still so narrow minded, especially people so close to you. I would support my son all the way, no doubt about it!
)
I have just watched a documentary on your transition.
I walked Tumbledown and saw friends fall. Jan you bravery equals all that I saw in service and gives hope to many who have the same dilema.
Swift and Bold
John
My gosh, my parents would support me in every way, in anything I wanted to do! I cannot believe the lack of support this poor woman has faced. I hope Jan finds the support and love she deserves!
Welcome to women’s world Jan:) it was a right decision to be what you always wanted to be. High respect!