Today, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have released “Know Your Rights: Laws, Court Decisions, and Advocacy Tips to Protect Transgender Prisoners,” a new guide that provides vital information for transgender prisoners. Download the guide here.
NCLR attorneys litigate on behalf of incarcerated transgender people across the country to protect their rights to safety and medical care. And while we have been successful in court, prisons continue to subject transgender people to severe abuses, including leaving them unprotected from violence and sexual assault, denying them necessary medical care, and placing them in solitary confinement for their “protection” for months, years and even decades. [pullquote] “Transgender prisoners endure horrific conditions in our nation’s prisons and jails, including extreme sexual and physical violence, denial of basic medical care, and unsafe living conditions. …”—Amy Whelan, NCLR Senior Staff Attorney[/pullquote]
The guide is divided into seven sections:
- The Prison Rape Elimination Act
- Safety and Protection from Violence
- Medical Care
- Housing and Administrative Segregation
- Searches and Privacy
- Safely Preserving and Enforcing Your Rights
- Resources
Said Amy Whelan, NCLR Senior Staff Attorney and guide co-author: “Transgender prisoners endure horrific conditions in our nation’s prisons and jails, including extreme sexual and physical violence, denial of basic medical care, and unsafe living conditions. Yet their stories of survival and resiliency are inspiring. This guide is intended to help transgender prisoners navigate some of the most common and dangerous situations that put them at risk of harm and abuse.”
Read a blog authored by Whelan about the guide.
Download the “Know Your Rights” guide.
The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education.
[From a News Release]
