Statement from the Task Force on Chelsea Manning

“While there are many opinions about what Pvt. Manning did, most people will support and understand what Chelsea Manning is doing now in identifying and transitioning to be a woman,” said the Rev. Darlene Nipper, Task Force Deputy Executive Director. “In fact, as she begins her jail term, it may help to shine the spotlight on the plight of transgender people in prison.”

In the groundbreaking report Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey—by the Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality—16 percent of men transitioning to women respondents reported denial of regular health care while in jail/prison, and almost a fifth (24%) reported denial of hormones. Sexual assault was also found to be a major problem affecting trans people in our prison system, with 38 percent of black trans women reporting such assaults.

The full report is available at the Task Force website here.