Trans News/ Issues

[EnderD_503]

Originally Posted by Nadeest

Interesting. Thank you for posting this. It sounds like this action was the result of a lawsuit of some kind. Also, it sounds like some judge got PISSED at someone's transphobic actions. In a lot of ways, I hope that this is accurate. As a transwoman, I feel that it is great for us, but how about for the transmales? What do y'all think about this?

I'm skeptical about it. Having the location situated in a women's prison supposedly for the sake of safety in a way seems a bit of a denial of transmale identity. The main issue that puts transguys who are on T or who pass decently at risk in male prisons are basically mandatory "public" strip searches upon entering the prison and before/after court dates. If male prisons started handling strip searches with more sensitivity and especially were more sensitive toward transmale prisoners, they could in many ways at least partially avoid the risk of outing a guy and putting him in a dangerous situation.

Ultimately, I think there should be a choice whether a guy feels safest in a male prison or in a designated trans block in a women's prison.

[~ocean]

that is deff another way to look at the issue

[Nadeest]

I can definitely see that, EnderD. Nor can I blame you at all for it. I certainly didn't like staying at a men's shelter, when I didn't have a place to stay, yet I had to, at least until I got some help.

[EnderD_503]

Originally Posted by Nadeest

I can definitely see that, EnderD. Nor can I blame you at all for it. I certainly didn't like staying at a men's shelter, when I didn't have a place to stay, yet I had to, at least until I got some help.

Transguys I know (on T) who stayed in male prisons have basically said it was strip searches that compromised their safety primarily. Having to be paraded naked in front of other inmates who were being brought in or out to court dates. Personally, I'm 100% for the ethical treatment of prisoners and think there's a lot of shit that needs to change, including providing inmates with secluded strip searches if you're going to put people through that to begin with.

[Mike]

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/melissa-h...54424#47054424

[Nadeest]

Thank you for posting this. I hadn't found a way to watch this show, until now; and I wanted to do so, very badly.

[EnderD_503]

I've never heard of this show before. Does it air on mainstream daytime television?

If so, I was surprised to see them invite Kate Bornstein, to hear them talk a lot about the trans narrative, and to talk more about trans prisoners and homeless.

I think it was still a bit to disproportionate as far as representation. Yes, they talked about racism, yet the entire panel other than the hostess appeared to be white, middle to upper class trans people. If they wanted to bring more awareness of other narratives and experiences than the typical one (as they said they wanted to), then they should have had a bit more diversity of speakers sharing their experiences. Trans people who have been imprisoned, experienced discrimination etc.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by EnderD_503

Ultimately, I think there should be a choice whether a guy feels safest in a male prison or in a designated trans block in a women's prison.

I like the idea of choice for the transmale.

[Nadeest]

Um, from the few times that I have stayed in jail, I haven't really observed much in the way of choice, for inmates.