Transgender Woman Forced To Show Private Parts At Hudson County Store, Suit Says

A transgender woman says she was forced her to show her prosthetic penis to a security officer at a New Jersey store after she was accused of shoplifting earlier this year, a lawsuit claims.

"I need to see what's in your pants," the security officer said during the May 12 incident, as reported by Daily Voice, at Food Fair on Market Street in Paterson.

The woman begged for help and felt scared, humiliated, intimidated and abused, according to the report. She sought help from a cashier but got nowhere - in fact, the cashier was called to do an inspection.

"Shockingly, rather than wait for a female police officer to arrive, a female cashier was called to conduct an invasive inspection," Daily Voice quoted the suit.

The lawsuit seeks a jury trial, compensatory damages, punitive damages and attorneys' fees, according to nj.com. The officer, identified as "John Doe" and wearing an Essex County sheriff's uniform, was working security when he approached the woman about 10 p.m. and allegedly made the demands.

The officer told the woman and the store manager he would call a female officer to inspect the transgender woman's pants, the suit claims. The woman tried to leave, even though the officer insisted he allegedly needed to inspect her pants.

"During this inspection, plaintiff showed the cashier the prosthetic penis and her vagina," according to the report. As the woman walked out of the restroom crying, the officer said, "I am so sorry," the lawsuit states.

Photo of Food Fair from Flickr