44-year-old Ashley Diamond spent nearly a decade in a men’s prison. But after being abused by prison officials and sexually assaulted at least 16 times behind bars in the last couple of years alone, she’s got plenty to speak out about.
After winning a case against the Georgia Department of Corrections in 2016 to grant incarcerated trans people medical care, Diamond’s lawsuit accusing the GDC of encouraging and refusing to protect her from sexual abuse is ongoing.
Even though Diamond’s free - on parole - prison is still an indescribable nightmare for many of our people.
Trans people in prison are 13 times more likely to be sexually assaulted. And nearly half of ALL Black trans people end up in prison at some point. And now, even post-freedom, Diamond will join the other Black trans women with felony convictions facing extreme housing and employment discrimination.
“Although I’m elated to be released,” said Diamond, “I’m still damaged by what happened to me in prison, and I’m worried about the people I left behind.”
Diamond’s fight against the GDC, and advocacy for Black trans women everywhere, isn’t over. Prisons are dehumanizing and designed to destroy our lives. We must join her, to abolish not only prisons, but the attacks on Black life.