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Tuesday 20 April 2021
They say they never feel safe - but who are they?
Trans prisoners, we're told, are the most vulnerable of the most marginalised. Struggling to get recognition, find the basic level of safety anyone should expect, all while stuck in an institution filled with men, some guilty of horrific crimes.
This is the rhetoric, from almost every major news outlet (for more on press depictions of trans prisoners, see Transgressionsand the prison resource page on this blog here.)
KQED have released a series of articles and videos on the plight of these prisoners, and they're not alone - there's plenty of media interest in this specific demographic - 1% of the male prison population. Because of the sole focus on the prisoner and their side of the story, it's not often possible to establish the crimes that have sent them down often for decades in high security. The prisoners use different names, normally without giving their born names, and give sanitised, abridged versions of their crimes.
I have sympathy for vulnerable people in prison. It is without doubt a place of violence, threat and, often, misery. But the endless focus on transwomen prisoners, rather than any other - young, effeminate, gay, or with learning or behavioural problems, or traumatised and mentally unwell, is vastly disproportionate to the numbers.
There's endless dismissal of women's concerns, with lines like this "One inmate, who is a trans man, expressed his response to these claims, which are founded in debunked myths that trans people access female spaces to prey on cisgender women"
Founded in debunked myths? Have they seen this blog?
“The complaints from the cis women here are that these are men coming here and they’ve been traumatized by men and so they shouldn’t have to live with them,” Mychal Concepcion told the Los Angeles Times. “I have repeatedly said that they’re women” "
However here (copy of paywalled LA Times article) is a woman in prison, Tomieka Johnson, saying "that she has survived domestic violence from a man and that it would be triggering to live with transgender people who haven’t had gender-affirming surgery. “I do think they should be safe, but it infringes on my right to be safe as well,” she said."
Does anyone care?
So I went through the inmates covered in this video, and this article, and did some digging.
First up we have
Yekaterina Wesa Patience - Robert Brendan Foster
Born Robert Brendan Foster (a somewhat less exotic moniker), Yekaterina, or Kat, features in many exposès and has a calm, centred disposition. It would seem.
"I identify as a woman, I should be in a woman's prison"
"Yekaterina West Patience, said she was twice raped in prison in the 1990s.
"Patience, 44, said she’d “love” to transfer to a women’s prison as well: "I think that would eliminate a lot of the problems of being sexually assaulted or being raped, pressured."
Why has Foster / Patience been in prison so long, and is it relevant? I think it is.
Foster was found guilty of the 1994 murder by slashing and strangulation of Tairree Lynn West, 25. After trial her daughter gave a statement “But none of this will bring my mom back,” said Luchessa (also known as Ashley), a sixth-grader who called 911 to report the attack, even though she had suffered a nine-inch gash from the top of her cheek to the middle of her throat."
"The gang broke into West’s apartment about 1:30 a.m., intending to steal money. The men attacked West with a butcher knife, while the women began choking Ashley and West’s 6-month-old daughter, Carlie. Ashley woke up and staggered into the living room, then was slashed with a knife before the assailants fled. Family and friends said Tairree West had known (Foster's girlfriend) Olson for several years and had allowed the woman to live in West’s apartment when Olson became homeless."
"Detectives say Foster was angry with West because West had told him she did not want him in her apartment. She suspected him of stealing $100 from her car"
"They had a motto back in those days: It was either fight or fuck."
From KQED: "David Bella Birrell also said she’d been sexually assaulted in prison."
Birrell was found guilty of 1st degree murder. "A man and his wife were arrested Tuesday in the slaying of a teen-age orphan for whom they had provided a home."
Hope Elfman was found naked on the patio of Birrell's house. Her mother had recently died, and her father had died some time before that. She was 17, and had also been violated after death, with objects forced inside of her vagina. Less than a week prior to her murder, Birrell had increased her life insurance, with his wife forging Elfman's signature.
Dallas 'Rachel' Goosen
'I was just sitting in my cell, just my bra and shorts, facing the wall doing nothing. That officer came in read me the riot act'
(In this quote it appears Goosen is being accused of being sexually inappropriate. Later it emerges Goosen lives in a multi-occupancy dorm, not a cell.)
"In 1993, Goosen was convicted of seventy-six counts of child molestation involving 4 separate victims. The victims were ages 6, 5, 4, and 3 years old at the time. Goosen was sentenced to 158 years in prison for his crimes" (the longest sentence ever given in county history)
"Many of the crimes were videotaped by one of Goosen’s adult co-defendants. The tapes contained evidence of extraordinarily depraved acts of child molestation perpetrated by Goosen"
My personal thoughts? Goosen is a depraved and worthless individual. I don't give a solitary fuck what Goosen feels about himself, he has destroyed the childhoods of at least four children and should never, ever be reappearing in their lives via a fawning media piece.
Ave Maria Fey - David Hooker
I've been hiding so long — the mannerisms — I've kind of tucked them in and locked it away," said Ave Maria Fey (Ave Maria - a Catholic prayer praising Mary, mother of god...)
According to KQED "Fey, like Patience, ended up homeless and a victim of child sex trafficking on the streets around L.A., she said."
(*Note - none of this is confirmed. I see no evidence produced whatsoever, and while it may be true it's a bit of a stretch to take these claims seriously when they do not even accurately list their names or crimes)
"Fey said she first went to federal prison at age 20 for robbing banks. After a few years, she came out as transgender. After she was released, Fey lived as a woman until she landed in California state prison in 1995 for the arson death of her adopted father. His death haunts her to this day. "Worst thing I've ever done in my life," she said.
"Thomas Hooker was nearly blind, in the advanced stages of diabetes, had to be regularly taken to the hospital for dialysis, had several toes amputated, and had difficulty moving without assistance. He lived in Palmdale with Joy Hooker, his third or fourth wife, and David Hooker (appellant), his 30-year-old adopted son. Joy and David were constant companions. They went to dinner and to the gym together."
"At about 3:45 a.m., Deanne (Thomas Hooker's daughter who lived nearby) and her husband Robert were awakened by Joy Hooker's pounding on their door, telling them to call 9-1-1. Robert ran to the Hooker house and saw appellant in the living room hosing down a burning loveseat. There was smoke inside the house, wallpaper had peeled off the walls, and plastic objects had melted. Robert asked appellant where Thomas Hooker was and appellant said he didn't know.
"Robert crawled to Thomas Hooker's bedroom and found him on the floor without a pulse. About five minutes later appellant came to Robert's assistance. Mr Hooker died from smoke inhalation.
"Thomas Hooker had told his nurse he knew Joy and David were having an affair and feared that if he didn't oust them from the house they would kill him; Joy's ex-husband, Robert Laughton, said Joy had recently told him she was tired of caring for her husband and had thought of ways to get rid of him;"
I don't know about you, but it doesn't look so much like a tragic accident to me after reading that. And nowhere is there any reference to Hooker presenting as female. He was, however, having an affair with the wife of his adopted father.
"Ava Fey said she would likely "run" to a women’s prison. Living with women would also offer something that’s eluded her for decades: women whom she could emulate". Yeah, that sounds reasonable - place heterosexual murderers in the women's estate so they can be emulated.
Throughout these reports are references to Carmen Guerrero, a transwoman murdered by their cellmate.
"When Miguel Crespo moved in, Guerrero, 48, began filling out a form that prosecutors believe she intended to use as part of a transfer request.
""He stated he is not compatible with me. I’m worried to be raped again," Guerrero wrote. "He should never have been in that cell with the girl" said Fatima Shabazz, former inmate (I don't know for what) and advocate who worked on the new transgender dignity, agency and respect bill."
Well, this appears to be true. Crespo was a danger to Guerrero: Crespo had made that clear. But does any of this mean these inmates should be incarcerated alonside women?
Guerrero was serving a life sentence for the murder of his long term partner, which he committed while their teen daughter cowered upstairs.
I wonder how many of these prisoners have been abused in prison because of their crimes as opposed to their identity?
Shiloh Heavenly Quine - Rodney James
"California corrections settled with the prisoner, Shiloh Heavenly Quine, in 2015, agreeing to perform the sex reassignment surgery"
Shiloh Heavenly Quine, born Rodney James (- these reborn prisoners choose such whimsical, peaceful names.) Quine and an accomplice kidnapped and fatally shot 33-year-old Shahid Ali Baig, a father of three, in Los Angeles, and took $80 and his car
"My dad begged for his life,” said Farida Baig, who tried to block Quine’s surgery through the courts. “It made me dizzy and sick. I’m helping pay for his [sic] surgery. I live in California. It’s kind of like a slap in the face.”
Out of the thousands of trans prisoners in America, it seems incomprehensible to me that the ones chosen for these sympathetic, sensationalist stories have committed such obscene crimes. Where are the transwomen stuck in prison for minor offences, for those committed under duress, during mental health crises or in trauma? What we are being told here is these people deserve exalted respect and care because of their identities. We are subtly told their crimes don't matter, because they are victims in the end, and the beginning.
What about women in prison? How many of them commit crimes to this scale? How well equipped are they to manage with these biological males who have raped and murdered?
"In a circle of women stretching, Mark Peaches Cates, 58, said she’d never had the chance to exercise with just transgender women. Gym time with men had made her uncomfortable.
"You couldn’t be yourself," said Cates, who is in prison for second-degree murder."
One; it seems abhorrent to call people like Dallas Goosen, David Birrell or Robert Foster, 'women'. They do not look like women, they have all only transitioned in the most minor way, they have committed terrible crimes. Two, the joy the inmates get from a weekly activity which allows them to wear women's clothing is a tad indicative of autogynephilia - the most common fetish to present in sex offenders and serial killers.
Boots sticks out in the film as they actually resemble a woman. They are also not interviewed and appear as merely a background figure. Boots was a porn star who became embroiled in a vendetta against a fellow trans porn star and ultimately shot dead a third transwoman porn actor in what was possibly a mistaken identity case. It's difficult to find any information on the case and Boots' fans are probably the only ones talking about it. Brief report, halfway down this article
Despite my best efforts, I have been unable to find out more on these prisoners:James 'Star' HendersonJames 'Star' Henderson (right) and Mark 'Peaches' Cate in blue James Star Henderson (left) puts makeup on Dallas Rachael Goosen (the worst child molester in Sonama county history)Henderson could be James Henderson here - "Defendant James Henderson appeals from a judgment and conviction imposed after he was found guilty of robbery. "Defendant's prior conviction was for an offense of oral copulation", defined as - "any person who participated in an act of oral copulation with another person who was under 14 years of age and more than 10 years younger than he, or when the act was accomplished against the victim's will by means of force, violence, duress, menace or fear" link here. Or it could be this - rape of a woman and armed standoff with police. Or it could something else entirely, we don't know. These are the only cases I have found with that name in that state. Of course, this is speculation based on the barest facts. I wonder if allowing those convicted of the most violent crimes the right to change their names is a good idea. Does KQED or NBC care they have given oxygen to the worst child sex offender in Sonoma county's history, bringing his face and voice to the masses, including his victims?
Mark 'Peaches' Cates - 'You gotta learn to pick up a knife and fight like a man'
Convicted of murder. No further details have been found. Interestingly, Cates makes it clear they do not want to move to Chowchilla, the women's prison. "I don't wanna be around women, I love men". The safety issues are clearly not a major concern for Cates....
Cary Keenan Smith
Also known as CJay, Smith is serving time for assault with a deadly weapon.
Smith has been in San Quentin, where they were apparently raped and then further persecuted by prison officials who wanted Smith to drop the complaints. San Quentin is a notorious prison, and Smith now resides in Chino with the prisoners above. Smith was jailed for 25 yrs to life in 1998. That's a very heavy stretch, even by American standards. "Under California Penal Code 245 PC, the crime of assault with a deadly weapon can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, and carries a maximum sentence of up to 4 years in jail or prison."
A personal note - Smith came across as likeable to me. It seems incomprehensible they committed such a violent crime. I suppose the passing of time alongside the frivolous subjects being discussed - makeup, mainly - and the sob story can be a powerful antidote to reality.
Jarrett Angel Williams, a transwoman housed at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville. I can find no history on them.
Jazzy Paradise Scott
We are told Scott is serving their third sentence for seconddegree robbery. They appear to have spent the majority of their life inside.
Makayla Fennell
Could beMichael Kennedy 'M-K' Fennell, a registered sex offender but, of course, I don't know.
NBC News "Transgender prisoners are almost never housed according to their identity, an investigation found. That’s putting many in danger." But, of course, specialist wings set aside for trans prisoners are not the answer - that isn't affirming them, and is exclusionary. What they really need, we are told, is to be placed in the women's estate.
In this video from NBC news, the narrator refers to 'transgender females' which is a bizarre way to describe transwomen, i.e. biological males.
Here is Michelle Kailani Calvin
Apparently, Calvin was 'robbing women for their purses and make-up, cos I was too afraid to go buy my own things, 'cos of the backlash on the streets'.
"Calvin, 48, said she has fought off three rape attempts by fellow prisoners. The first time, in 2015, she said her cellmate hit her so hard she slammed into the cell’s door". “I asked to go to a women’s prison, because I am a woman,” "Calvin described the trauma of her 15 years as a transgender woman incarcerated in men’s prisons"
Calvin also explains how they told their arresting officers 'I was born male, but at night I identify as female' which sounds more like prostitution than being trans.
They are serving a life sentence for robbery and car jacking. Sounds a little more serious than stealing makeup.
Kelly Renard Blackwell, Inmate ID #E72399
Age 53, Blackwell is pictured nowhere online as far as I can see. They receivedlifewithout possibility of parole and have been inside for 30 years - which is a bit heavy! Why?
Candice Destiny-Rene Love'I love who I am and I love being me, but after the rape and attack, I wondered, if I wasn’t trans, would I still be going through what I’m going through? I don’t think so.' Love was 34 at the time of publication, and there are no further details.
Jasmine Jones
- formerly incarcerated transwoman who is now a legal assistant TGI (transgender, gender variant and intersex) Justice Project. I don't know if the fact Jones works within the legal field, in some description or another, implies their convictions are for lesser offences.
"Instead of looking at us as we present ourselves, correctional officers and prison staff look at us as our former selves and use incorrect pronouns, and tear us down psychologically"
Bambi Salcedo
A Los Angeles-based transgender activist who spent 14 years in California jails and prisons. For why, we do not know, apart from references to Salcedo's early involvement with gangs, drugs and prostitution. Perhaps their notoriety and position suggests their crimes were not heinous?
In addition, Kristi Legget,here, incarcerated 23 and a half years at the time of recording
Naomi Turnerhas, at time of recording, been in prison for three years
And Jolina Olivia Diazinside for 30 years
And the two wheelchair users below (not Goosen, right)
..and another inmate, intriguingly called Fancy Lipsey, are all featured without any background. When we are bombarded with stories and reports on these people, listing their allegations as if proven, and being asked to feel sympathy for them - the least we should expect is some level of honesty and disclosure.
(If anyone knows anything more, please let me know. I promise to disclose it, whether it be terrible crimes or cases worthy of sympathy)
Thinking of TGI and this quote from Californian department of corrections that they are "committed to addressing the safety concerns" of transgender, intersex and nonbinary prisoners" I would like to point out that 'intersex' does not belong here, they really must stop conflating medical conditions with gender identity.
The fact people with variations of sexual development continue to be lumped in here is just additional proof of the anti-science rage du jour, and it's deeply unethical. 'Intersex' is not a term used in medicine anymore, as it is misleading and offensive. People with variations/differences of sexual development are still male or female. They never get the choice of identifying as 'intersex'.
The new bill of Weiner's is called the Transgender dignity, agency and respect bill. This has passed, despite former female prisoners protesting; a file pressed against the move by female prisoners being dropped because they had all been released.
Despite there being serious concerns more broadly. Despite guards stating they are concerned for the women's safety and the motivation of the trans inmates and being forced to strip search members of the opposite sex; the crimes committed by the trans inmates and their transition time and status being irrelevant, or the problems which have dogged Canada after similar legislation.
They do not even need a formal diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
“I’m authoring this legislation to ensure they can be housed where they’re safest"
"Transgender inmates are some of the most marginalized members of society," said Sen. Scott Wiener.
Thankfully, KHSU who carried the KQED story did act with some journalistic integrity, noting "KQED could not verify most of the alleged attacks reported by Patience and the other prisoners in this story"
- Ok, but let's not count our chickens just yet, hey? Let's consider, for a moment, this just might increase rape.
I hope and pray that some day, the women left to absorb these prisoners are listened to. "Today, most transgender prisoners continue to be housed automatically with the sex they were assigned at birth, which is often dangerous for them" well, who cares about women, especially those who've broken the golden rule of behaving and being nice, huh?
James Star Henderson (left) puts makeup on Dallas Rachael Goosen (the worst child molester in Sonama county history)
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