By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The US Department of Justice has issued a memo removing protections for LGBTQ+ individuals from sexual abuse in prisons, immediately ceasing enforcement of standards designed to shield them from harassment. This directive aligns with previous executive orders that have faced legal challenges, and also directs inspectors to disregard these protections in audits. The Justice Department is working to update Prison Rape Elimination Act (Prea) standards to conform with the anti-transgender policies. Advocates warn that these changes will likely increase violence and chaos within correctional facilities.
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DoJ moves to eliminate sexual abuse protections for LGBTQ+ people in prisons, and the immediate reaction is one of profound alarm. The sheer inhumanity of the move is difficult to comprehend. The idea that certain individuals deserve more trauma, that their safety isn’t a priority, is a deeply unsettling concept. It’s the kind of decision that feels designed to inflict maximum suffering. The implications are chilling, particularly for transgender individuals, who already face a heightened risk of sexual violence within the prison system. We’re talking about a demographic that already experiences horrifying levels of abuse; now the protections in place are being stripped away.
When considering the implications, it feels as though the GOP is actively embracing a pro-rape stance. This isn’t a new revelation; it’s a pattern, and it’s exhausting to witness. The rollback of these protections feels like a deliberate and targeted act of cruelty, and it’s difficult not to view it as evil. It’s a regression that appears to accelerate at an alarming rate, and it raises urgent questions about the protection of human rights within the justice system. The focus is to make people suffer. What this implies for the future is even worse.
The potential ramifications of the DoJ’s decision are also deeply concerning. It’s not just about the removal of existing safeguards, but the possibility of creating an environment where abuse is tacitly encouraged. The stated goal appears to be the return of something similar to v-coding. This creates a sense of dread. The thought that trans women could be routinely subjected to sexual violence in men’s prisons, allegedly to improve the morale of other inmates, is almost too sickening to contemplate. Such policies would be abhorrent.
When it comes to the legal aspect, it’s also important to consider the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This clause was enacted to ensure that all individuals receive equal protection under the law. The current motion by the DoJ seems to directly violate this principle by suggesting that some people are more equal than others. Such a blatant disregard for the basic rights of a vulnerable population is completely unacceptable.
The intent behind this decision seems to be a desire to instill fear. It’s about control. By making transgender people even more vulnerable, a climate of fear is created, which can then be used to further marginalize and control this community. It feels as though some people in power are actively working to build a dystopian society where certain groups are deemed unworthy of basic human rights.
The issue of the PREA is raised. PREA, the Prison Rape Elimination Act, still exists. However, the proposed changes from the DoJ are targeting how gender identity and sexuality will be considered when enforcing these policies. Although PREA is in place to protect against sexual assault, what does this ultimately mean in practice? It’s not about making LGBTQ+ people’s rights equal to those of everyone else; it’s about removing the safeguards that help protect them.
The fact that these protections are being targeted speaks volumes. This is not a neutral act; it’s a deliberate decision with potentially devastating consequences. It’s a choice to allow harm to continue, and it highlights the urgent need for action. This is the latest example in a long line of actions that actively attack the most vulnerable in society. This is a feature of the current system, not a bug, and the trend will only continue until there is a decisive response. It’s hard to imagine why anyone would be okay with this.