“Blokes Don’t Cry, So Man Up” – A Trans*gressive Life in Queensland Jails

Similarly to their global counterparts, Australian Trans* woman suffer significant amounts of social discrimination, refusal of housing, increased incidence of mental health problems and diminished employment opportunities compared to mainstream society, all of which can contribute to the increasing likelihood of being incarcerated due to criminal activity. The Standards of Care (7th Version) is explicit in its approach to institutionalised Trans* and gender diverse people by asserting that the delivery of Trans* appropriate health care services are medically and morally necessary regardless of a person’s living arrangements. However, for incarcerated Trans* women residing in jails in Queensland Australia, delivery of such services cannot be taken for granted, if at all. Procedures to house, manage and treat Trans* individuals have been operational in Queensland since their enactment in 2008. However, from 2006, application for specialised medical treatments such as hormone therapy did exist under the Corrective Services Act 2006 (Qld) ss 22, 265, 266. Although this legislation is indeed a welcome and important development, being the first of its kind in Queensland to consider this important area, its implementation in a practical sense can and does deny appropriate medical and/or psychological care to an already vulnerable prison population. The purpose of this presentation is to describe and critically analyse the procedures adopted by the Queensland Corrective Service for its Trans* offenders and these aspects will be contrasted with the actualities of being a Trans* woman in a male prison in this jurisdiction who are refused appropriate treatment. I conclude that if the system continues in its current format, the possibility of adverse health outcomes continues as a distinct reality, and recommend changes to ensure that Trans* appropriate services be provided and the SOC guidelines be maintained.