Trans prisoners in the UK
I had never really thought about some of the issues around being trans. I am now in generally far better educated on the subject. I am aware of the various language, and about some of the casual transphobia that happens all the time. I had, however, never turned my mind to trans prisoners until I recived an invite to this meeting:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/94112?userlanguage=ga&save_prefs=true
I have to say I am completely appauled by the treatment of transexual people in prison by the UK government. The fact that despite having their gender recognised on their birth certificate and other documents they are placed in prisons of the gender that they were assigned at birth is nothing short of outragous. I can see why this isn't a front page issue for the LGBT community - lets face it prisoners rights aren't all that high on anyones agenda - but I do think it needs to be a higher profile issue.
The one case I have read in any detail about it is pretty scary. The person at the centre of the case is clearly very distrubed. She has been convicted of attempted rape and manslaughter. She was being held in a male prison presumably because of her anatomy. The court has ruled that she should be moved to a womens prison, but the case had to be taken to court to have this happen:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/sep/04/transsexual-human-rights-courts
I completely agree that she should be incarcerated, recieve treatment etc. but seriously, housing her in a mens prison?
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/94112?userlanguage=ga&save_prefs=true
I have to say I am completely appauled by the treatment of transexual people in prison by the UK government. The fact that despite having their gender recognised on their birth certificate and other documents they are placed in prisons of the gender that they were assigned at birth is nothing short of outragous. I can see why this isn't a front page issue for the LGBT community - lets face it prisoners rights aren't all that high on anyones agenda - but I do think it needs to be a higher profile issue.
The one case I have read in any detail about it is pretty scary. The person at the centre of the case is clearly very distrubed. She has been convicted of attempted rape and manslaughter. She was being held in a male prison presumably because of her anatomy. The court has ruled that she should be moved to a womens prison, but the case had to be taken to court to have this happen:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/sep/04/transsexual-human-rights-courts
I completely agree that she should be incarcerated, recieve treatment etc. but seriously, housing her in a mens prison?