In a move that has sparked widespread concern and fear among transgender inmates, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day back in office mandating that transgender federal prisoners be housed according to their biological sex rather than their gender identity.
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The directive has alarmed advocates and legal experts who warn of dire consequences, especially for transgender women who face imminent transfer to male facilities. Moira Meltzer-Cohen, an attorney for Donna Langan, a transgender woman serving a life sentence for bank robbery, expressed grave concern about the potential risks. “It’s going to be incredibly dangerous,” Meltzer-Cohen told DailyMail.com, cautioning that such transfers could lead to violence and even a “bloodbath.”
The Shift in Policy
The executive order stipulates that federal agencies will now recognize only two sexes—male and female—eliminating policies that accommodated gender identity. This change directly affects access to intimate spaces such as prisons, shelters, and other federally funded facilities.
According to DailyMail.com, Sandra Gant, a federal public defender in Massachusetts, revealed the distress of a transgender inmate in Minnesota. The inmate, who was housed at FCI Waseca, was reportedly informed of her impending transfer to a men’s prison. “Her family reached out in a panic,” Gant shared. “She, along with others, have been segregated and told they are being processed for transfer.”
Advocacy and Legal Pushback
Attorneys and advocacy groups, including the ACLU, are mobilizing to challenge the order, which they argue jeopardizes the safety and dignity of transgender individuals. Gant urged public defenders and civil rights organizations to provide assistance, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention.
In addition to the prison policy changes, the executive order rolls back protections for transgender individuals across federal agencies. It bans federal funding for transition-related healthcare, requires the term “sex” to replace “gender” in official documentation, and instructs agencies to defund initiatives promoting what the order refers to as “gender ideology.”
Broader Implications
The order’s impact extends beyond prisons. It signals a broader rollback of rights for transgender individuals, sparking criticism from human rights organizations and LGBTQ+ advocates. While the Trump administration defends the policy as an effort to uphold “biological realities,” critics warn that it disregards the lived experiences and vulnerabilities of transgender individuals.
What’s Next?
As lawyers and advocacy groups prepare for legal battles, the immediate priority remains the safety of transgender inmates facing transfers. With the ACLU and other organizations stepping in, the coming weeks will likely see significant legal and public pushback against the order.
For many transgender individuals in the federal prison system, however, the uncertainty and fear are already overwhelming. Advocates caution that the implications of this policy could be both widespread and devastating, calling for urgent action to prevent harm.
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