Trans prisoners seem to be a new flavor for organizers to cut their teeth on. Google the term and anything but the words of an actual trans prisoner emerge. Why?

Perhaps its because we are locked up and in our incarcerated and sometimes desperate state we accept being spoken for by strangers. At least that way we are represented.

Yeah, no thanks.

At the risk of unleashing a torrent on TGNC advocates and activists, give me the mic and get out of my way, I know what I’m doing. This is just like the racial injustice of black men and women being spoken about on news channels by nothing but whites, never bothering to include the black community in the conversation. Forgive me for not being okay with someone standing on my face to get up high enough to talk about me.

Check it out,
I got a voice
and
I know how to use it

I can write
and
I do

I am not helpless
I am not a victim
I am not your child


Piece of advice, not that it’s been asked for (AND THAT’S THE PROBLEM!!!), if you are in the tough work of representing trans prisoners in some fashion… to anyone, you should be INCLUDING trans prisoners in your LIFE! We are people
who breath
cry
laugh
love
break
learn.

We
speak
write
publish
advise
lead
manage
follow
listen
direct.


Did I mention we, too, can speak? Did I mention that part?

With Love
Ruth Utnage
(an actual trans prisoner, I know, shocking…)