Tuesday, January 21, 2014

To: Matt Stroud, Editor
The Prison Complex
In These Times

From: JEnnifer Gann
CDCR #E-23852
Kern Valley State Prison
P.O. Box 5104
Delano, CA 93216

Subject: Transwomen in Men's Prisons

Dear Mr. Stroud,

I'm writing to you in response to your follow-up letter and questions. I would be happy to give you an extended interview via ongoing correspondence.

To answer your first set of questions, concerning 'what is life like for transwomen in a men's prison' - it's definitely not comfortable! Upon arrival at a maximum security men's facility, a transwoman faces rude and inappropriate comments from guards and prisoners. This ranges from sexual innuendo to lewd gestures to homophobic hate. The most immediate concerns are mandatory strip searches and forced double-cell housing with men - including homophobic/transphobic gang members and sex-offenders!

As you can imagine, this is very scary and threatening for a 'girl' especially a sex abuse survivor like myself! Yes, we are forced into these dangerous situations with complete disregard for our personal safety, thus we are concerned into seeking compatible sexual relationships with random men for our own security on the yard.

In spite of more progressive legislation, such as the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA) it's recent 'national standards' implementation by the U.S. Department of Justice, this is still the most common experience for most transwomen in California.

Yes, I underwent full MTF gender transition while I've been incarcerated, though I was bi-sexual prior to incarceration. I have been on a regimen of oestrogen hormone therapy for the past decade or so, and hope to eventually have sex-reassignment surgery (SRS).

If only this medical treatment was provided, I would then be 'legally' defined as a woman and would be required to be re-housed in a women's facility where I belong.

For goodness sake! Please help people to understand we are for all intents and purposes - WOMEN!

I will write more later...

Sincerely,
Jenifer Gann
Black and Pink