Authorities say they’re trying to be sensitive to the way they identify transgender victims of the fire that killed 36 people in Oakland on Friday.
The Alameda County Sheriff's Office tweeted on Monday that it was working to fix its official list of victims to reflect the preferred names of those who identify as transgender. Users tweeted at the office saying a trans woman was misidentified by her birth name rather than her preferred name, Feral Pines, on the city’s official list.
"Right now we are actively working with an advocate from the LGBT community so that we are sensitive and that we are properly reporting," said Tya Modeste, spokeswoman for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.
The public list of victims includes at least three trans women using their chosen names: Cash Askew, Em Bohlka and Feral Pines. State law requires that the women's chosen names also appear on their death certificates.
https://twitter.com/hostilehottie/status/806009317384024064
We care deeply about the trans community. We honor & respect the memory & identity of Feral Pines. Updating and working with @woodstiff
— Alameda County Sheriff (@ACSOSheriffs) December 6, 2016