Transgender Rights
Gender discrimination, particularly that of transgender men and women, has been an issue in our society for decades, but gender discrimination in our prison system is something that is often overlooked. Transgender men and women often face entering prisons of the opposite gender than they identify with in addition to being stripped of their rights to such things as hormone treatment they’ve been receiving for years or the care products of their identified gender. Furthermore, they often face solitary confinement for their own safety as they are harassed and/or violently attacked by fellow inmates.
NGOs working on the issue
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Gender Interactive Alliance (GIA) Pakistan
- Solidarity Foundation
Links to additional relevant NGOs
Emma, Caitlin. “High Court Sidesteps Ruling on Transgender Rights.” High Court Sidesteps Ruling on Transgender Rights. POLITICO, 6 Mar. 2017. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
Kapitan, Alex. “Transgender Identity & Inclusion Webinar.” Standing on the Side of Love. Love & Justice, n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
Mahapatra, Dhananjay. “Supreme Court Recognizes Transgenders as ‘third Gender’.” The Times of India. The Times of India, 15 Apr. 2014. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
“Prison Rape Elimination Act.” PREA. BJA and Impact Justice, n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2017. .
Puglise, Nicole. “LGBT Prisoners’ Art Exhibit Offers Voice to the Incarcerated – and ‘call to Action’.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 06 Nov. 2016. Web. 02 Apr. 2017. .
Ritchie, Hannah, and Special To CNBC.com. “Read All about It: The Fakest News Stories of 2016.” CNBC. 30 Dec. 2016. Web. 01 Apr. 2017.
Savage, Charlie. “Chelsea Manning Describes Bleak Life in a Men’s Prison.” The New York Times. 3 Jan. 2017. Web. 02 Apr. 2017. .
Strangio, Chase. “Arrested for Walking While Trans: An Interview with Monica Jones.” American Civil Liberties Union. American Civil Liberties Union, 26 Apr. 2015. Web. 02 Apr. 2017. .
(unknown), Jason. “Letters to Our Family (February 2017).” Black and Pink: Prison Abolition Now! Black and Pink, 27 Feb. 2017. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
Worley, Will. “Transgender Woman ‘raped 2,000 Times’ in All-male Prison.” The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 18 Apr. 2016. Web. 02 Apr. 2017. .
Testimonials
“ went inside and was not told that I couldn’t take my pictures with make-up on, they only said that anyone with a tank top on had to go back and change into a t-shirt. So I took the pictures and was so relieved that they provided me with the same dignity that is afforded to male prisoners… for once, and then I went back to my cell. Two days later, someone came and shook my cell down looking only for make-up. He found my stash and wrote me a ticket. When it came time to receive the photos, they said that I couldn’t have mine because “male inmates are not permitted to wear or possess cosmetics.” WFT?!? I am not a male, I am a transgender female. So now I am being criminalized for my gender identity…” http://www.blackandpink.org/revolt/letters-to-our-family-february-2017/ Monica Jones discussing her case and discrimination against transgender people https://www.aclu.org/blog/arrested-walking-while-trans-interview-monica-jones
