Police identify transgender murder victim, refuse to release name
By Todd Heywood
(Issue 1606 - Between The Lines News)
DETROIT-- The Detroit Police Department has identified a murdered man found in women's clothing in an empty lot. However, they are refusing to release the name to the public.
"We have identified the victim, but we are not releasing the name," Detroit Police Officer Leon Rahmaan said. "We are not releasing the name at the request of the family."
But that is not all…
Michigan Messenger and Between the Lines, Michigan's statewide LBGT newspaper, filed a formal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Detroit Police Department this afternoon.
Why does a LGBT newspaper feel the need to embarrass the victim and the victim’s family further? Knowing the person’s name will serve no purpose let her rest in peace.
Here in Connecticut it is against the law to release how a victim is dressed. A high school principal was stopped for drunk driving and the police reported that he was dressed as a woman at the time; the family was totally devastated at the news. As a result of that case the law was passed making it illegal to disclose the type of clothes a person was wearing.
It makes wonder what would happen if these victims were females dressed in men's or masculine clothing. Would their attire be released?
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