• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Factbox-Oscar nominations 2023: nominees for 95th Academy Awards
  • Oscar nominations: five takeaways
  • Madonna’s biopic axed after pop star announces world tour

Rikers Island Jail Opening Transgender Housing Unit This Week

Anthony Costello November 20, 2014

Rikers islandRikers Island is opening its new transgender housing wing this week for its male-to-female inmates who have yet to undergo transition surgery reports Gay City News. The news organization toured the new 30-bed facility located on the sixth floor of the jail's north infirmary command, which is not part of the jail's actual hospital. The unit is a large dormitory-style room with another smaller room complete with round tables and fixed seats where inmates can watch TV, eat or play games. Inmates have yard access and can use physical and mental health services located nearby the unit.

The jail is known for its history of unsafe conditions and documented brutality at the hands of officers. Deputy Commissioner for Strategic Planning and Programs at the Department of Correction (DOC), Erik Berliner, is assessing the safety and security of the unit.

Said Berliner:

"We are finding ways to keep people safe, giving them a place where they don’t have to worry about being themselves. This is a place that can be sensitive to them. It is the right time for it. We are reassessing everything about safety and security."

The transgender housing unit is an option offered only to transgender inmates; the inmate can voluntarily choose the unit or a unit with the rest of Rikers' 11,000 general population inmates. Berliner surveyed incoming transgender inmates, who have not had transition surgery yet, about what option they would choose. Half of those surveyed chose the new unit, and the other half chose to remain among the male inmates.

Advocates of the facility have pushed for its implementation for years. More than a 100 jail staff members received training on transgender issues by two of the advocates for the facility; Chase Strangio, himself transgender and a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, and Alisha Williams, director of prisoners’ legal services at the Sylvia Rivera Law Project. Strangio spoke about the unique opportunities that the training presents.

Said Strangio:

"It's an incredible opportunity to have advocates on issues impacting trans people in confinement settings to be the ones training uniformed correctional staff. The trainings represented a point of potential progress insofar as they show a commitment by leadership at DOC on meaningful training on trans issues.

"But like with all training, the culture change that is going to need to happen is going to take much more than a two-hour training could ever accomplish. So much will depend on the governing document and our hope is that the directive will permit all trans people who wish to access the unit to do so. One of the reasons why this model is important is that it is a voluntary unit. It is not one they are forced to enter. From an advocate’s perspective, that’s the only way a unit like this could work."

WireBerliner noted that one of the trainers referred to a correction officer as a "guard," which is considered a mislabelling term among corrections officers. However, Berliner felt that it proved educational to the officers as they now understand what transgender people encounter on a daily basis. Former inmate, Maria Lopez, and executive director of transgender rights group STARR is optimistic about the program.

Said Lopez:

"Like most programs that are new and innovative, it's going to take some time to work out the kinks. But I’m optimistic. This is an opportunity to work with law enforcement for a change. I’m elated.

"What is remarkable about this opportunity is that it is about more than just getting trans people jailed better but also connecting them to services. The deputy commissioner said he will do what he can to connect people to non-profits. It will save the city money in recidivism."

Berliner urges staff, inmates and advocates to continue providing input on the new facility.

 

Topics: Health, History, towleroad, Trans Rights More Posts About: Law - Gay, LGBT, Law Enforcement, New York, New York, Transgender

Related Posts
  • North Dakota Republican floats fining transgender people $1,500 if they use ‘wrong’ pronouns
  • Rainbow signs to be replaced in N.J. middle school
  • Meta’s oversight board calls for more inclusive adult nudity policy
  • Oscar nominations: five takeaways

    Oscar nominations: five takeaways

    Published by AFP The Oscars will take place on March 12, 2023 Los Angeles (AFP) – The nominations for the Academy Awards were unveiled Tuesday, with “Everything Everywhere All at Once” leading the way with 11 …Read More »
  • Madonna’s biopic axed after pop star announces world tour

    Madonna’s biopic axed after pop star announces world tour

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Madonna’s biopic has been axed after the pop star announced her world tour. The 64-year-old singer was set to direct the much-anticipated biopic – which had Julia Garner as its lead …Read More »
  • Dave Chappelle slams behaviour of protesters at his show over transphobic claims

    Dave Chappelle slams behaviour of protesters at his show over transphobic claims

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Dave Chappelle doesn’t care if people “take issue” with his jokes, but he warned cancel culture is in danger of “taking the nuance out of speech”. The 49-year-old comedian has been …Read More »
  • Iceland hosts first ever exhibition for Russian feminist protest group Pussy Riot

    Iceland hosts first ever exhibition for Russian feminist protest group Pussy Riot

    Published by Euronews (English) “Velvet Terrorism: Pussy Riot’s Russia”, an exhibition being held at the Kling & Bang gallery in Reykjavík, Iceland, is the first ever retrospective of the Russian feminist protest art collective. The exhibition, …Read More »
Previous Post: « Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback Refusing to Grant Marriage Rights to Gay Couples
Next Post: John Cameron Mitchell on Returning to ‘Hedwig’: INTERVIEW »

Primary Sidebar

Adjacent News

  • Over half of LGBTQ parents surveyed in Florida considered leaving state over ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law

    Over half of LGBTQ parents surveyed in Florida considered leaving state over ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law

  • Watch: George Santos closes door on reporters asking about amended FEC report

    Watch: George Santos closes door on reporters asking about amended FEC report

  • Doug Mastriano wants to classify drag shows like strip clubs and adult bookstores because of a Pa. ‘queer prom’

    Doug Mastriano wants to classify drag shows like strip clubs and adult bookstores because of a Pa. ‘queer prom’

Good Trash: Going to Read It Somewhere, Y'know

  • ‘Unfollowing Now’: Rebel Wilson Faces Backlash For Attending Lavish Hotel Opening In Dubai As Critics Address Anti-LGBT Laws

    ‘Unfollowing Now’: Rebel Wilson Faces Backlash For Attending Lavish Hotel Opening In Dubai As Critics Address Anti-LGBT Laws

  • Stormy Daniels Declares It’s ‘Exhausting’ To Always Be Asked About Alleged Affair With Donald Trump: ‘I Wish He Would Go Away’

    Stormy Daniels Declares It’s ‘Exhausting’ To Always Be Asked About Alleged Affair With Donald Trump: ‘I Wish He Would Go Away’

  • Sam Smith obsessed with McDonald’s

    Sam Smith obsessed with McDonald’s

RSS Partner Links

  • People Believe What They Want
  • Tarek & Heather Rae El Moussa Reveal Release Date for New HGTV Show 'The Flipping El Moussas'
  • “Diane Kruger wore sheer pants for the Gucci jewelry event at PFW” links
  • Princess Kate & William arrived empty-handed to visit a Windsor food bank
  • ABC News foreign correspondent James Longman finally gets hands on his Emmy – many months after winning it!
  • Pamela Anderson Talked About Sly Stallone Trying To Buy Her Love, Her Marriage To Kid Rock, And Her “Romantic” Bond With Julian Assange
  • Hot Slut Of The Day!

Most Recent

  • Factbox-Oscar nominations 2023: nominees for 95th Academy Awards

    Factbox-Oscar nominations 2023: nominees for 95th Academy Awards

  • Oscar nominations: five takeaways

    Oscar nominations: five takeaways

  • Madonna’s biopic axed after pop star announces world tour

    Madonna’s biopic axed after pop star announces world tour

  • Dave Chappelle slams behaviour of protesters at his show over transphobic claims

    Dave Chappelle slams behaviour of protesters at his show over transphobic claims

  • Iceland hosts first ever exhibition for Russian feminist protest group Pussy Riot

    Iceland hosts first ever exhibition for Russian feminist protest group Pussy Riot

  • Madonna Is No Longer Directing the Madonna Biopic

    Madonna Is No Longer Directing the Madonna Biopic

  • ‘Nothing’ Made Anne Heche ‘Prouder’ Than Her Relationship With Ellen DeGeneres & The ‘Childbirth’ Of Her 2 Kids

    ‘Nothing’ Made Anne Heche ‘Prouder’ Than Her Relationship With Ellen DeGeneres & The ‘Childbirth’ Of Her 2 Kids

  • Beyonce’s father defends singer over Dubai gig’s backlash from LGBTQ+ community

    Beyonce’s father defends singer over Dubai gig’s backlash from LGBTQ+ community

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

×