Transgender inmates in New York City would have access to “gender-affirming” devices, such as prosthetic penises and breasts, under a new bill from a Democratic lawmaker.
Assemblywoman Crystal Hudson’s bill would also give guards in New York City’s jails access to items such as breast binders, wigs and tuck-in underwear, as first reported by the New York Post.
Hudson is expected to introduce the bill during Thursday’s city council meeting.
The legislation is sponsored by Democratic Assemblymembers Farah N. Louis and Chi A. Ossé.
“This bill would establish a process by which persons in custody may obtain wigs, hair extensions, breast bands, underwear or appliances, prosthetics, or other similar articles or medical devices used by persons to affirm their self-determined gender identity,” according to the New York City Council website.
Assemblywoman Crystal Hudson’s bill would also give guards in New York City’s jails access to items such as breast binders, wigs and tuck-in underwear
Under the bill, it would be up to the NYC Department of Corrections to decide who would foot the bill for gender-affirming care
“The bill also requires Department of Corrections personnel to have access to gender-affirming items or medical devices at work.”
Under the bill, it would be up to the NYC Department of Corrections to decide who would foot the bill for gender-affirming care.
Prosthetic penises sell on Amazon for around $130, while tuck-in underwear costs around $15 and silicone breasts cost $39.
DailyMail.com has contacted 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 openly gay Black women ever elected in New York City.”
The DOC confirmed to DailyMail.com that it quietly began issuing folders to inmates last year after apparently receiving them “as a donation.”
The bill is sponsored by Democratic Assemblymembers Farah N. Louis (left) and Chi A. Ossé
The DOC would not say who donated the folders.
Benny Boscio, president of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, told the Post that the gender-affirming objects could be used as weapons by inmates.
“If we were to give prisoners access to prosthetics, they would also be able to hide drugs and weapons, such as improvised razor blades, that could easily be used to attack other prisoners and our officers,” Boscio said.
According to the NYC DOC’s quarterly report on TGNBI individuals in custody, 42 of the 6,135 inmates currently identify as transgender.