Trump’s Sweeping Order Sparks Outrage as Transgender Inmates Face Transfer to Male Prisons Amid Rollback of Safety Protections and Gender Transition Rights
In a sweeping move, President Donald Trump has issued an executive order on his first day back in office, mandating the transfer of transgender women to male federal prisons. The controversial order also halts federal funding for gender-transition medical treatments, including hormone therapy and surgeries.
The directive applies to all federal prisons and immigration detention centers, with the stated aim of reinforcing a policy that recognizes gender based solely on biological sex. This has raised alarm among legal advocates, who warn that the policy could place transgender women in extreme danger.
Fear And Panic In U.S Prisons
Transgender inmates are gripped with fear following the announcement. Legal experts and advocates are voicing concerns over the severe risks that this policy poses to the safety of transgender prisoners, particularly transgender women who will now be moved to male facilities.
“This is going to be incredibly dangerous,”
said Moira Meltzer-Cohen, an attorney representing a transgender inmate.
“We’re heading into a bloodbath situation.”
The move has already caused widespread panic among transgender inmates, with many fearful for their safety and well-being.
Major Setback for Transgenders
The executive order not only impacts housing but also halts all medical transition-related treatments for transgender inmates. According to the order, no federal funds will be used for procedures, drugs, or treatments aimed at “conforming an inmate’s appearance to that of the opposite sex.”
Advocates argue that these medical treatments are often necessary for the mental and physical health of transgender individuals. Jasmine Tasaki, a transgender woman who has served time, warned that stopping hormone treatments would be devastating for many inmates, leading to severe emotional distress.
Women’s Liberation Front Claims Victory
The Women’s Liberation Front, an advocacy group that defines women based on biological sex, hailed the order as a “major victory” for the protection of female inmates. The group has long opposed the housing of transgender women in women’s prisons, arguing that it violates the constitutional rights of non-transgender female prisoners.
While this group celebrates the new directive, transgender advocates and organizations such as the ACLU are working to challenge the order, which they believe will increase violence and discrimination against transgender prisoners.
Legal Challenges Loom
Legal experts predict that the executive order will face numerous challenges in court. The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that prison systems must protect vulnerable prisoners from violence and that medical care, including gender transition treatments, is a constitutional right. Advocates argue that this new directive violates those protections, as transgender individuals are at an increased risk of victimization in male prisons.
A Return To “Biological Sex” Policies
Trump’s order is part of a broader effort to limit government recognition of gender to biological sex. This extends beyond prisons to include public shelters and other intimate spaces, leading to fears that transgender people may be forced into unsafe environments across multiple areas of life.
Critics of the order also highlight the harm it could cause to transgender people outside of the prison system, with new policies aimed at eliminating what the order terms “gender ideology” in federal programs and initiatives.
Transgender Inmates at a Crossroads
With over 1,500 transgender women currently housed in federal prisons, the potential consequences of this order are far-reaching. Transgender women represent a significant percentage of female inmates, and many now fear for their safety as they face a future in male prisons, where they are more likely to experience violence and discrimination.
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