City’s DMV employees gearing up for LGBTQ+ sensitivity training

News Release from City and County of Honolulu, April 17, 2024

HONOLULU -The city’s Department of Customer Services announced today that its employees at driver licensing centers and satellite city halls across O‘ahu will be offered LGBTQ+ sensitivity training.

The training is encouraged – not mandatory – and intended to help the department’s customer service representatives effectively interact with members of the LGBTQ+ community when performing public services in the City and County of Honolulu.

For example, employees will be trained to use an individual’s chosen names and preferred gender pronouns when renewing a Hawaiʻi driver’s license or motor vehicle registration, and ensure those preferences are reflected with professionalism and courtesy during transactions in person or over the phone.

“We are prioritizing this training as part of a broader effort to help staff navigate the complexities of gender identity as well as sexual orientation, and become more competent at serving LGBTQ+ customers with care and tact,” said Kim Hashiro, director of the city’s Department of Customer Services.

The department will be collaborating with the LGBTQ+ community, including the Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center, on training for its nearly 300 employees. The training will be offered via two, 30-minute online video sessions and a follow-up, in-person Q&A session that is designed to help employees handle various situations, including name change and other transactions for transgender customers. 

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HNN: City’s DMV employees gearing up for LGBTQ+ sensitivity training