Trans prisoners in New York City will have access to “gender affirming” devices such as prosthetic penises and breasts, under a new bill proposed by a Democratic lawmaker.
Councilwoman Crystal Hudson’s bill would also give New York prison guards access to items like breast binders, wigs and underwear, as first reported by the The New York Post.
Hudson is expected to introduce the bill during Thursday’s city council meeting.
The legislation is supported by Democratic Councilmembers Farah N. Louis and Chi A. Ossé.
“This bill would establish a process for detained individuals to obtain wigs, hair extensions, chest girdles, underwear or shapewear, prosthetics, or other similar items or medical devices that are used by individuals to affirm their self-determined gender identity,” according to the New York City Council website.
Councilwoman Crystal Hudson’s bill would also give New York City prison guards access to items like breast binders, wigs and underwear to tuck in.
Under the bill, it would be up to the New York City Department of Corrections to decide who foots the bill for gender-affirming care.
‘The bill also requires Department of Corrections staff to have access to gender-affirming items or medical devices while on the job.’
Under the bill, it would be up to the New York City Department of Corrections to decide who pays for gender-affirming care.
Prosthetic penises sell on Amazon for about $130, while underwear sells for about $15 and silicone breasts for $39.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Hudson’s office for comment on the bill.
According to her website, Hudson “was first elected in 2021 and made history as one of the first out gay Black women elected in New York City.”
The DOC confirmed to DailyMail.com that it began quietly providing chest binders to detainees last year after apparently receiving them “as a donation.”
The bill is supported by Democratic Councilmembers Farah N. Louis, left, and Chi A. Ossé.
The DOC declined to say who donated the folders.
Benny Boscio, president of the Correctional Officers Benevolent Association, told the Post that gender-affirming items could be used as weapons by inmates.
“Allowing inmates to have access to prosthetics would also allow them to hide drugs and weapons, such as improvised razor blades, that could easily be used to assault other inmates and our officers,” Boscio said.
The New York City Department of Corrections currently holds 42 of the 6,135 detainees who identify as transgender, according to its Quarterly Report on TGNBI Individuals in Custody.
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