“We only have male & female” – Trump’s order sends transgender inmates to men’s prisons
Transgender federal inmates are facing panic and fear following an executive order from President Donald Trump that mandates they be transferred to men’s prisons.
The order, which asserts that the government will recognize only two s3xes—male and female—raises serious concerns about the safety of these inmates when placed among hardened male populations.
Attorneys are urgently seeking legal avenues to challenge this decision, warning that transgender individuals will become easy targets for v!olence.
Moira Meltzer-Cohen, who represents Donna Langan, a transgender woman serving a life sentence for bank robbery, expressed fears of a potential “bloodbath” if her client and others are forced into male facilities.
In a message sent to public defenders, Massachusetts attorney Sandra Gant detailed the alarming situation of a transgender woman detained in Minnesota, who is now terrified of being moved to a male prison.
Concerns about the implications of this transfer were echoed by other lawyers, who noted that while the Bureau of Prisons is rounding up trans inmates for relocation, there’s uncertainty about the placement of those who have undergone gender-affirming surgeries.
This policy shift, greeted with enthusiasm by conservative groups, has triggered outrage within the transgender community.
Many inmates fear for their safety, with one inmate, Rhonda Fleming, previously suing to keep trans women out of women’s facilities due to safety concerns.
Trump’s order, part of a broader rollback of protections for transgender individuals, could face significant legal challenges, as organizations like the ACLU have vowed to defend LGBTQ rights. While Trump controls the narrative for now, the future of these policies remains uncertain amidst the potential for legal opposition and Congressional pushback.
