12 GROUNDCOVER NEWS LIVING ARCHIVE MAY 29, 2026 Transgender in prison — first-person accounts AARON ST. GERMAIN Prison correspondant “On the elevation of woman the world’s redemption and salvation hinge. And not till woman bursts the bonds of her sexual slavery, to which she has ever been subjected, will the world obtain an inkling of what she really is and of her proper place in the economy of nature.” — Eliphas Levi Being transgender in prison can be a difficult, if not horrible, experience. Transgender inmates are often outcasts in the general population. Still, more and more people are coming out as transgender here. What follows are excerpts from interviews I did with three transgender women who are dear friends to me: Brandilyn, Lilly and Pree. This is a glimpse of who they are as people and their lives in prison. Aaron: Hey, girls, would you like to tell the readers about yourselves? Pree: I’m funny, fun, loving, vindictive (LOL) and I have a nice, unique personality. Brandilyn: I’m 34 and a father of one, small business owner, ordained minister, practicing Wiccan and Tarot card reader; a lead guitarist, backup vocalist and tattoo artist. Doing four to eight years for felonious assault. Lilly: I’m goofy, outgoing, fun to be around, and I’m sometimes not working with a full deck of cards. I’m an open Transgender and ready to mingle. Aaron: How long have you been transgender? Pree: Five years. Brandilyn: Secretly my whole life. Openly since 2015 and diagnosed in 2018. Lilly: I’ve been this way since I came out of my momma, and FYI, she didn’t have to push very hard ... I came sashaying out saying, “Heyyy!” Aaron: How do y’all feel about the progress Michigan has made to better accommodate transgender inmates? Brandilyn: It’s good that the state and overall country are taking gender dysphoria seriously as a mental health issue, not some want or perverse sexual gratification. I’m happy being treated with respect with proper housing, showers and surgical procedures, and the “need” not “want” for feminine clothing and make-up are medical details that allow us these things. They help us be who we truly are. Lilly: They’re doing a shitty job with putting us on the correct dosage of hormones. Aaron: What would you like to see improved? Pree: Faster progress. Brandilyn: We need more state workers trained to work with Transgenders as far as referring to us by the proper pronouns (she/her) and how to properly shake us down. Lilly: New staff and doctors who know what they are doing. They need to open a unit for LGBTQI inmates and allow consensual sex. We are adults! Aaron: I don’t want to be insensitive but can you tell readers some of the bad things that have happened to you in prison for being transgender? Pree: I was assaulted in May of 2019 by a corrections officer because of who I am. I’m going to court to press charges and file a civil suit against that officer. Hate does exist! Brandilyn: I’ve been housed with known predators and men can be very aggressive in their approach to women. Staff have called me a "dick-sucking fag" and have tried to get me assaulted through third-party means. But some staff have been very supportive of being LGBTQI. Lilly: They single us out, destroy our property, slander our names! They say we are going to hell and that we amount to nothing. That we are a menace to society and an abomination. Aaron: What are some of the good things that have happened since being in prison? Pree: I started hormones and it makes me feel more like a woman. Brandilyn: Since the state started recognizing us, I’ve been housed accordingly with other Transgenders instead of with gangbangers and predators. Lilly: I’ve met some really cool people, good friends who are going through some of the same issues as me! Aaron: How do you feel the community can help, not only with LGBTQI in prison, but also on the outside? Brandilyn: Vote on proposals that help us. Lilly: Bringing in more staff and doctors who know what they are doing. Aaron: Thank you for your time — do you have anything you’d like to add? Any words of wisdom for possible LGBTQI people out there reading this? LGBTQ RESOURCE CORNER JIM TOY COMMUNITY CENTER 560 S. Main St, Ann Arbor. 734-995-9867 www.jimtoycenter.org Information, education, social events and advocacy by and for the Queer and Ally community. Check website for meetings and events. EMU LGBT RESOURCE CENTER 354 EMU Student Center, Ypsilanti. 734-487-4149 lgbtrc@emich.edu. Works to increase students’ sense of belonging and contribute to a culture of equity through programming, advocacy and education. U-M SPECTRUM CENTER 3200 Michigan Union, 530 South State Street, Ann Arbor. 734-763-4186 spectrumcenter@umich.edu University of Michigan's gender and sexuality resource center working to enhance campus experiences, increase belonging and help students thrive. CORNER HEALTH CENTER 47 N. Huron St., Ypsilanti. 734-484-3600 Primary, specialty, mental health care and support services. The Corner is committed to providing gender affirming care to young people. HIV/AIDS RESOURCE CENTER 3075 Clark Road, Suite 203, Ypsilanti (800) 578 2300, info@hivaidsresource.org HOTLINES FOR HELP If you are in crisis or in need of immediate help, please text or call one of the numbers: The Trevor Project: Call 1-866-488-7386 or Text 678678. Trans Lifeline: Call 1-877-565-8860 988 Lifeline: Text or Call 988 Originally published in the July 2020 edition of Groundcover News. Brandilyn: Don’t be afraid to love yourself and be true to you. There are a lot of people like you and there are communities that will accept you — just reach out and we will reach back with a hug. Stay up, be true, be you. Lilly: This is to all my girls and boys, “Stay strong sistas and brothas — we’re all in this together. It’s hard but it gets easier. Be yourself and don’t let anyone else tell you who to be. As long as you’re happy with yourself, that’s all that matters and counts. Love you all!” Being LGBTQI in prison is a unique experience. We struggle but we survive. Please know we are people, too, and only wish to be seen and accepted as such and judged by what we do, not by who we love. Thank you for reading this!
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