New Jersey Rolls Back Protections for Trans Prisoners After a wave of tabloid coverage about pregnancies involving a trans prisoner at a women’s facility, officials gave themselves more power to deny housing placements consistent with gender identity. Adam M. Rhodes
Trans Man Forced to Undergo Genital Exam at New York Prison: Lawsuit Prison officials allegedly used solitary confinement to get the plaintiff to submit to an invasive examination prohibited under federal law. Chris Gelardi
‘Reborn Into A Strange New World’: A Trans Woman Prepares For Release After 18 Years In Men’s Prison An incarcerated writer reflects on what her "going home" story will look like when home no longer exists. Jessica Phoenix Sylvia
A Transgender Woman’s Attorneys Fear She Won’t Survive Her 60-Month Sentence New York attorneys have launched a campaign to release transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary prisoners during the pandemic. Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg
New York City Must Take Action to Ensure the Most Vulnerable Survive the Pandemic The city has created the structural conditions that have engendered disproportionately high rates of infection and death among its Black and Latinx residents. TS Candii, Darializa Avila Chevalier
Transgender Sex Workers in New York City Struggle to Survive the Pandemic Advocates say the “progressive” city has left them to die. Rebecca Chowdhury
The Struggle to Be Trans in Minnesota’s Sex Offender Program Four transgender women say clinicians and staff deny them gender-affirming care and see their identity as in conflict with sex offender treatment. Sessi Kuwabara Blanchard
Spotlight: De Blasio—The Circumstances of Layleen Polanco’s Death Shouldn’t Be So Perplexing Sarah Lustbader
Trans Woman’s Death in Rikers is Still a Mystery. But Why Was She There At All? Though little is known about how Layleen Polanco died, advocates say her story highlights New York City’s flawed approach to criminal justice. Raven Rakia
Trans Woman Jailed and Harassed Because She Didn’t Pay A $15 Seatbelt Fine, Lawsuit Says Sierra Castle alleges she faced discrimination and harassment after being placed in a men’s holding cell in the Cobb County, Georgia, jail. Raven Rakia
Incarcerated Transgender Women’s Lives Must Matter As Kamala Harris begins her presidential run, her move to block gender affirming surgery for an incarcerated transgender woman deserves scrutiny, especially as new cases highlighting the struggle for the rights of imprisoned trans women emerge. Zoé Samudzi
New York Agency Declines to Help Trans Woman Allegedly Harassed by Law Enforcement She is suing the Division of Human Rights for saying it’s not authorized to investigate her complaint. Emma Whitford
In ‘Amazing’ Verdict, Jury Awards Transgender Woman Punitive Damages Against Suffolk County Jail The landmark decision could help other transgender people in jails and prisons who have been denied access to hormone treatment, a violation of their constitutional rights. Melissa Gira Grant
Communicating While Queer Is Being Punished in Prison A lawsuit accuses Illinois of cutting off LGBTQ prisoners’ lifeline to supporters. Raven Rakia
Advocates Say Brooklyn D.A.’s Office Is Prosecuting Transgender People In Self-Defense Cases Decision-making by prosecutors in such cases, says one attorney, ‘compounds, entrenches, and ultimately authorizes the initial act of violence by prosecuting the victim.’ Aviva Stahl
Advocates Fight Texas Statute Delaying Transgender Prisoners’ Ability to Change Their Names Aviva Stahl
NYC Transgender Activist Says She Was Criminalized For Defending Herself Against Abuser Her former partner assaulted her in her home. When the police arrived, she was arrested and he walked free. Emma Whitford
