Transgender woman moved to Ontario female correction facility after Internet uproar

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

Transgender woman moved to Ontario female correction facility after Internet uproar (http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/02/11/transgender-woman-moved-to-ontario-female-correction-facility-after-internet-uproar/)

Summary: a trans woman from the UK was detained in Canada due to a visa issue, Canadian border officers repeatedly misgendered her as a man (even to her face) after they found out she was trans even though her passport shows her gender as female, and they detained her in a correctional facility for men (thankfully, she has been transferred her to a women's facility).

[Tenka]

While the transfer is good in principle I don't expect the women's facility to be much friendlier to her. And... how long can they keep you detained for a "visa issue"? Fuck borders.

[Reticential]

^True, however I believe she is still in solitary as she was in the men's prison. So her time might be eased a little in that regard.

[Sabot Cat]

Thank goodness! I was reading about this on Zinnia's tumblr and I was extremely worried about her; it's really shitty she's being detained in the first place, but it's a lot worse to be held in a male correctional facility (obviously).

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

^True, however I believe she is still in solitary as she was in the men's prison. So her time might be eased a little in that regard.

There's nothing easy about being in solitary. Granted this would be better for her overall physical safety; solitary is pretty inhumane tbh.

@OP: wow, and here I am trying to get Canada, duly noted. :glare:

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

The prison issue aside, how she was abused and humiliated by border officials who kept misgendering her, even to her face, despite being a woman and having a passport with an F in it, is a major problem.

[WilliamGreen]

Agreed Danielle

[blake 3:17]

Fucking awful. She's a friend of a friend & folks were worried sick. She is a comedian and some of her tweets are pretty funny and scathing: http://storify.com/sween/avery-edison-detained-at-toronto-pearson-airport

There was a weird mood to the whole thing of getting somebody transferred to the right jail, but wtf.

Edited to add: She's out of jail & maybe back in England... The fall out of this will be interesting.

[Bea Arthur]

Does anybody know if she was targeted because she was transgendered? I have read the local press and havent seen any info on this.

[Motorvating]

Since I'll be moving to Ontario soon, and I am also a transgendered woman, so I don't know whether or not be afraid something like this might happen to me, or be hopeful that the authorities have learned their lesson.

[blake 3:17]

WHEN: 11am Saturday, February 15th

WHERE: The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, at 74 Victoria Street, Toronto.
After the listening to the speakers, we will be marching to Dundas Square.

WHAT: A public protest of the transphobic and transmysogynistic treatment of Avery Edison, and other trans* people.

WHY: We aim to bring attention to the discrimination transgender people face in correctional institutions and within the immigration system. We also aim to bring attention to bill C-279 that would allow transgender individuals to finally be recognized Federally and have human rights rights embedded in Canada's Charter of Rights & Freedoms.

BRING: your sassy selves, friends, signs/posters, chants and warm clothing.

TWEET: use the hashtag #FreeAvery, #J4TP (Justice for trans people), and #C279

TRIGGER WARNING: There will be discussions of transphobia, violence, discrimination, assault, and other triggering content. Please be aware of this and take the precautions you need to to keep yourself safe.
Police will also be involved with this protest, and we are asking them to be mindful of this sensitive situation.

ACCESSIBILITY: We will be marching on the street. The roads have LRT tracks which may pose a problem for wheelchairs.
We are currently looking for an ASL interpreter who would be willing to volunteer their time.
__________________________________________
*Update:
We are aware that Avery has been moved to a woman's facility. While this is excellent news, it does not change the fact that she was still initially put in a men's prison. It does not change the fact that she, despite being legally recognized as female for 5 years, was still misgendered and repeatedly called a man.
It is also important to note that the punishment did not fit the crime- If Avery had been cisgender, she would likely not be spending time in a prison.

We must recognize that if it weren't for Avery's loved ones, as well as the activists and the news outlets that campaigned for her, she would most likely still be in the men's prison.
This incident has exposed the rampant ignorance, transphobia and transmisogyny that exists within the immigration and correctional systems. Too often do transgender people face discrimination and violence in these systems. This is our call for change.


*Update 2:
We are glad to let everyone know that Avery is set to be sent back to the UK on February 13th.

We will still be having the event on Saturday to send a loud and clear message that we as a community demand better of our immigration and correctional systems.
__________________________________________


www.facebook.com/events/1379541392314482

[blake 3:17]

Does anybody know if she was targeted because she was transgendered? I have read the local press and havent seen any info on this.

She's been pretty clear that it wasn't an issue of being targeted as trans -- it seems more an issue of neglect than intent, but that's a tricky line.

[RedAnarchist]

Shouldn't have been an issue in the first place. She is a woman, if they really have to cage people for nothing at all, they could at least put her with other women.

Also, I am biologically male but due to a birth defect I can't produce enough testosterone, so I need to use a gel that contains androgens. If I didn't use that gel, within a few weeks my penis would not be able to be erect. Putting a woman into a male prison because she has a penis is bullshit and nothing more than bigotry.

[TheWannabeAnarchist]

Transphobia is probably the worst contemporary form of discrimination in Western society...

[Orange Juche]

Transphobia is probably the worst contemporary form of discrimination in Western society...

And all the self-congratulating organizations like HRC and GLAAD throw trans people under the bus consistently. It's disgusting.

[Nemo]

I'm curious to see if this actually does spark policy change. Judging by current standards they have in place, it's much-needed:


People who are discriminated against or harassed because of gender identity are legally protected. This includes transsexual, transgender and intersex persons, cross-dressers, and other people whose gender identity or expression is, or is seen to be, different from their birth-identified sex.

...definitions fabricated by people who clearly understand nothing about gender, or trans issues.