Things turned ugly at a ceremony at the San Diego LGBT Community Center this weekend when a transgender police officer was heckled while receiving an award for her service.

Over 400 members of the city's LGBT community gathered at the center Friday night to celebrate Transgender Day of Empowerment. The event included speakers, the awarding of academic scholarships to trans students and a segment honoring those in the local transgender community who have made a difference.

One of those honored was Officer Christine Garcia, who was met with jeers by a group of protesters gathered in the back of the auditorium. As she took the stage, they shouted "Pig!" while holding signs that read "Revolution not Reform" and "I Will Not Put Up With This Sh*t."

LGBT activist Nicole Murray-Ramirez was in attendance and told the San Diego Gay and Lesbian News that the demonstrators were from both the LGBT and straight communities. He added that the audience drowned out their protests with a standing ovation for the trans officer.

“This attack on police officer Garcia was one of the ugliest incidents against our own that I have ever witnessed in our community," Murray-Ramirez said. "What’s even sadder these anti-police activists, and these actions are supported by The Center associates "A.T" and CZ Firestone.”

He added: “It was these same two people that were the leaders in the central efforts to deny Officer Garcia entrance into The Center while she was in uniform.”

Murray-Ramirez is referring to an altercation that occurred at the center this past November, when Officer Garcia was denied entry to a Transgender Day of Remembrance event because she was wearing her police uniform.

The groups of protesters at both disruptions were organized by trans activist CZ Firestone, who teaches at the Hillcrest Youth Center and spoke at Friday night's event.

In a Facebook post following the ceremony, she wrote: "The sound of booing resounds in my ears, deafening silence prevailed, stuck standing still. For my real ones carrying signs, my undying love and respect. For all the fake people, betraying their own wellness, J. Cole said it best: 'If they don't wanna be saved, don't save them.' You think you're risking your life for trans people's safety, stop lying to yourself, you risk your life so that those with power privileges go unchecked. You didn't betray me or even the youth, you betrayed yourself."

With the ongoing tragedy of heightened transgender murder rates across the country and the continued pursuance of the crime of "walking while trans," the tension between Police and the transgender community is at an all time high.