Transgender Incarceration: Challenges and Experiences in Prison

Any body who has been or is in prison can attest to the fact that surviving behind bars is extremely tough. Deprived off, every need in all levels except the basic necessities; prisoners strive hard to make every day manageable and try their best to stay sane. The great thing is there are many outlets that make the struggle lighter such as prison programs, activities that contribute to the inmates' welfare; there are also cheap prison calls that inmates can take advantage of to talk to their loved ones and to catch up on things. But there is a struggle inside prison walls that we are all privy and it seems no one is taking notice of the issue. A struggle so hard that the things mentioned above can't seem to take the heaviness away. Being a transgender in prison is much harder, than one might assume. Reveal your identity or face the risk, most transgenders hide their identity till they can't manage no more.
LGBT Bullying
The prevalence of LGBT Bullying is prisons is widespread and of high numbers. It's an unfortunate situation that because of one's gender he or she will be an easy target of taunts, insults or even sexual assaults and beatings. Those who are open about who they are instead carpeted with daggers instead of support and are forced to become discreet out of safety and survival. But the most unfortunate situation is that they are not just bullied by their fellow inmates but also the prison officers themselves engage in such horrid acts. Often extremely punished for light things they may have done, they are sometimes beaten up for no reason at all.
Rights Removed
If it's quite hard enough for transgender people to manage to live a life normally, multiply that by a million if a transgender is locked up in prison. The basic rights of a transgender needs are not honored by jail facilities. These needs and rights such as hormones shots for maintenance and being put in a facility and wearing clothes with the gender they identify is ignored by courts and often put them in the gender they once used to be, which only increases the frustration and anxiety among transgendered individuals which in the long run might result in depression which could lead to self harming acts and eventually suicide.