Transgender Officer Banned From Event She Helped Organize

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A transgender police officer who helped organize San Diego's Transgender Day of Awareness was turned away from the event when she tried to attend in her police uniform.

The San Diego Union-Tribune (http://bit.ly/2fWls8T) reports leaders of San Diego's LGBT Community Center later apologized to Officer Christine Garcia and Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman.

Garcia, who publicly transitioned last year, is San Diego's first transgender police officer.

She helped plan last week's event and was also a member of a police detail that provided security.

Later, she attempted to attend the event herself but was asked to leave. She says she was told her uniform could upset others.

The center's CEO, Delores Jacobs, called the incident a regrettable misunderstanding.

Jacobs added that the LGBT center supports San Diego's police officers.