Trump directs federal prisons to house transgender women in men's facilities

US President Trump has issued an order directing federal prisons to place transgender women in men's facilities and to suspend medical treatments associated with gender transition.

This decision is part of an executive order signed by Trump on his first day in office, aimed at restricting government recognition of an individual's gender to their sex assigned at birth, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The Women’s Liberation Front, which advocates for single-sex prisons based on biological sex, hailed the directive as a "major victory." The organisation is currently challenging a California law that permits prisoners to request housing that aligns with their gender identity, arguing that it infringes upon the constitutional rights of non-transgender female inmates.

Trump’s order echoes the Women’s Liberation Front’s concerns, stating that attempts to alter the biological understanding of sex threaten the dignity, safety, and well-being of women.

However, the order has faced backlash from advocates for transgender rights, who warn that it could significantly endanger transgender inmates. Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, expressed concerns over potential violence, stating, “There will be rapes and physical assaults because of this policy.”

Legal experts suggest that the order could face challenges in the courts, as federal courts have previously ruled that prison systems must protect vulnerable prisoners and provide necessary medical care, including hormone therapies for those diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

The number of transgender individuals affected by this policy is relatively small, with approximately 1,500 federal prisoners identifying as transgender women. However, they represent a significant proportion of the female prison population, where 15 percent are transgender. In contrast, there are around 750 transgender men among approximately 144,000 male prisoners.