As a transgender woman, Mara Ellis was locked up with males and had to endure isolation and humiliation.
Mara Ellis was in prison for more than four months. She was placed in isolation, away from the rest of the prison population. Sometimes she was locked up for 23 hours a day. Why? Because she's transgender. This is her story.
I've felt alone before, but this is much worse. There are times I feel like I can't get through. My mind is breaking… My relationship was turbulent. I was charged with assaulting my partner. Two weeks later I assaulted two police officers and that's how I ended up in prison. This guard sort of grabs me from behind. I think he's attacking me so I turn around to hold him at arm's length. More guards come in and drag me along.They come to me and say,"Because of your little stint with the guards at the video link, we're sending you to mainstream."
I get to the end cell and look back towards the gate and everyone is standing in the hallway staring at me. I hear someone say,"What the fuck?"I feel constantly harassed and there is no privacy. I feel like I've lost control of my identity and my body.Being a transwoman in a men's prison, you don't get to just do prison… you have to be constantly experienced by other people.They are pressuring me to suck their dicks. I'm telling them I don't want to.
In Queensland, the Northern Territory and South Australia, the policy is not as clear: people can indicate whether they want to go to a male or female prison but placements are considered on a case-by-case basis. If the person hasn't had gender confirming surgery, then they will be placed in a prison based on the gender on their birth certificate.
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