Trump Restricts Transgender Women From Female Prisons
Former President Donald Trump has issued an executive order prohibiting transgender women from being housed in female federal prisons.
The order also mandates the cessation of all gender-transition-related medical treatments for federal inmates, according to a report by The New York Times.
This directive is part of a broader initiative to limit federal recognition of gender to biological sex at birth.
It also extends to transgender immigration detainees, marking a significant expansion of restrictions imposed during Trump’s previous term.
The order has sparked debate, with supporters such as the Women’s Liberation Front applauding it as a “major victory” for women’s rights.
The group, which opposes housing transgender inmates in facilities that align with their gender identity, argues that such policies jeopardize the safety and dignity of non-transgender female prisoners.
They are currently challenging a California law allowing inmates to request housing based on their gender identity.
Critics, including transgender advocates and legal experts, warn that the policy endangers transgender inmates, leaving them vulnerable to violence and depriving them of necessary medical care.
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Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, stated, “This policy will lead to rapes and physical assaults.”
He also noted that the policy could complicate prison management, as officials currently have discretion to ensure safety in their facilities.
Legal experts predict challenges to the order, citing previous court rulings that mandate the protection of vulnerable inmates and access to medical care, including gender-transition therapies.
In 2022, a federal judge ordered the Bureau of Prisons to provide gender-transition surgery for an inmate, citing Eighth Amendment violations.
Trump’s executive order, titled “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” primarily targets transgender women. It does not, however, impose similar restrictions on transgender men.
Despite the relatively small number of transgender prisoners in federal custody—approximately 1,500 transgender women and 750 transgender men—the policy significantly impacts the incarcerated female population, where transgender women make up an estimated 15%.
The order has reignited debates over the rights and protections of transgender individuals within the criminal justice system, setting the stage for potential legal and political battles in the months ahead.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
