A Lawsuit Accuses the Bureau of Prisons of Delaying an Inmate’s Gender-Affirming Care
Lawyers representing a transgender inmate in federal custody have accused the Federal Bureau of Prisons of trying to “run out the clock” in delaying an initial consultation for gender-affirming treatment until mid-April, despite approving the consultation early this month.
The Bureau’s Transgender Executive Council (TEC) has already recommended Iglesias, 47, meet with a doctor if certain conditions, including good behavior, are met, according to court documents filed this month in federal court. Iglesias, who in May became one of the first people in federal custody to be moved to a facility aligning with their gender identity after experiencing physical and sexual violence, is set to move to another women’s facility in Florida in March.
“Assuming she does not engage in behavior that would prevent her from continued placement in a female facility and assuming further that no other reasons develop that would make gender confirmation surgery inappropriate, the TEC does expect plaintiff to be referred to a surgeon at the appropriate time,” the filed documents read.
