A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Oregon claims a transgender female prisoner in Umatilla is being denied essential medical care.
According to KATU, the lawsuit was filed on behalf of 25-year-old Michelle Wright, who is currently behind bars at Two Rivers Correctional Facility for an attempted robbery. She has been behind bars since 2013, and has spent more than 400 days in “effectively solitary confinement.”
Wright, who was born as a man, has identified as woman since she was a teenager. She was unable to begin hormone therapy prior to being incarcerated. Her nearly 100 requests for medical care have been denied repeatedly, the lawsuit states, and she has attempted suicide and attempted to castrate herself three times.
People with gender dysphoria can suffer severe anxiety and depression, according to OHSU Associate Professor Dr. Christina Milano.
A representative with the Department of Corrections released the following statement Monday:
“While it is the policy of the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) not to comment on matters of pending litigation, DOC has been proactive in addressing the needs of incarcerated transgender people. DOC looks forward to its continued work on these issues and to responding to the specific complaints raised in the litigation in court.”
Read for the full story on the KATU website.
