Testimony on the Impact of Sexual Assault in the Prison System

The most straightforward way to protect transgender, gender nonconforming, nonbinary, and intersex people who are incarcerated from sexual assault is to presumptively house them according to their gender identities. The NYCLU urges the Committees to do everything in their power to ensure that Part B of the Governor’s PPGG proposal is removed from the final budget and to advance the Gender Identity Respect, Dignity, and Safety Act (A.7001-B/S.6677). Ensuring that transgender, gender nonconforming, nonbinary, and intersex people are presumptively housed according to their gender identities and treated with respect will not only prevent sexual violence in prisons and jails, but it will also literally save lives.