#She's got inch long acrylics and lash extentions Debra I'm pretty sure she's still gonna be femme an hour from now

[teaboot]

Aight so to break this down, we're assuming it was a violent crime, not self-defense, that harmed someone in some way, that has already been reported by someone, and I am a witness being asked to give my statement of events, which I cannot avoid. Okay. Okay? Okay. Already super specific and unlikely but okay

First off, yall gotta understand how a statement works. In a good witness statement, you only say the truth as you observed it. And unless something is as true as you can possibly believe something to be, you don't say it.

So, do you know the person was trans? How? Did they show you their medical records, complete with photographs and a PowerPoint presentation? Did you see a Trans Woman (because, let's be honest, nobody bringing up these hypothetical is imagining a trans man committing violent crimes), or did you see a woman with broad shoulders? Did you see a trans woman, or a woman with facial hair? A trans woman, or a woman with a low voice? A tall woman? A muscular woman? A woman with a wig?

Those are useful descriptors. "Trans woman" is more often than not your opinion, or your assumption, and not a truth you can back up with evidence. I've met plenty of cis women with these characteristics and it has meant nothing.

Second, I personally have witnessed a break-in where a cis dude tried to throw the cops off by wearing a long wig and stuffing socks into his shirt. THAT was a costume, and you can take a costume off later. A woman who is a woman at 5pm during an aggravated assault is still a woman at 8:30 on Tuesday getting the waffle house early bird special. The cis dude was embarassed to be in drag and took the outfit off in the get-away car. SAY what you SEE. You're not running into them later.

Third, calling the cops sucks shit. If someone's already done it, that's not on you, but the second you say "trans lady", the cop ain't thinking about other identifiable features, they're building a list in their head of every trans lady they've arrested in the past five years and trying to figure out which one fits your story better. SOMEONE is going to get a visit later. "Six foot tall brunette in a purple tracksuit" is someone you have to LOOK for.

Fourth. Who even gives a shit, man

"You see a trans person commit a crime. Do you describe them as trans to police?"

I mean first off my answer is highly dependant on context. Second off, No