Elton John demands protection of transgender prisoners
Elton John and artist Michael Stripe have called for equal rights and protection of transgender prisoners in response to an alleged mistreatment at a Georgia prison.
Legendary singer Elton John and artist Michael Stripe have called for equal rights and protection of transgender prisoners in response to an alleged mistreatment at a Georgia prison.
Ashley Diamond, a transgender woman, filed a lawsuit in February from the Southern Poverty Law Center against Georgia Department of Correction officials, reported Aceshowbiz.
She admitted that because of hormone therapy denial for three years, her body suffered greatly. She also alleged that she had been raped several times during her three years in prison.
US Justice Department, on behalf of Diamond, said prison officials must treat a prisoner’s gender identity conditionjust like how they treat any other medical or mental health condition.
John, 68, and Stipe, 5, supported the department’s statement.
“We applaud the US Department of Justice for supporting Ashley Diamond and the trans community in arguing that Georgia’s policy of denying transgender inmates their medically necessary hormone treatment is unconstitutional,” they wrote, backing up the justice department.
“Transgender women in male prisons have an equal right to protection from violence and abuse in prison, and yet they continue to face horrific injustices. But we must do more to end the culture of violence and discrimination surrounding gender identity and expression. We urge the state of Georgia to embrace desperately needed changes to their correctional system,” they said.
Source:: Indian Express
