Transgender Women in US Prisons Face Isolation and Loss of Care Under New Order

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Transgender women in U.S. federal prisons reportedly face significant mistreatment, including isolation and reduced access to gender-affirming care, following an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump, which seeks to limit recognition of transgender identities. According to civil rights advocates, the order prompted rapid responses, including the relocation of trans women to men's facilities and the termination of their access to hormone therapy.

The policy dismantles protections established by the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), which mandates individualized assessments regarding housing placements based on the sexual assault risk of incarcerated individuals. Legal experts assert that this directive will likely increase the risk of sexual violence against transgender individuals, who are already nine times more likely to face abuse in prison environments.

Lawyers from organizations like the National Center for Lesbian Rights have filed lawsuits challenging the legality of the executive order. Their claims argue it violates equal protection laws, amounts to cruel and unusual punishment, and calls for immediate attention to what advocates describe as a humanitarian crisis for trans individuals in federal custody.

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