Trans woman ‘raped every day for four years’ in men’s prison
An Australian trans woman says that she was raped thousands of times while being held in a male prison.
Mary, who does not want to use her real name, was incarcerated at a number of prisons across Australia more than a decade ago – including Queensland’s maximum security ‘Boggo Road’ prison.
The prisoner – who had breast implants at the time but had not undergone gender surgery – says she was forced to have sex with other prisoners on a daily basis.
Speaking to News.com.au she said: “You are basically set upon with conversations about being protected in return for sex.
“They are either trying to manipulate you or threaten you into some sort of sexual contact and then, once you perform the requested threat of sex, you are then an easy target as others want their share of sex with you, which is more like rape than consensual sex.”
Mary says she was raped every day for four years – and forced into performing sexual acts more than 2000 times.
She added: “It makes you feel sick but you have no way of defending yourself.
“It was rape and yes I was flogged and bashed to the point where I knew I had to do it in order to survive, but survival was basically for other prisoners’ pleasure.
“It was hell on earth, it was as if I died and this was my punishment.”
Mary says she was also forced to cut her hair short and was stopped from taking hormones, which led to a regrowth in facial hair.
She said: “I don’t have a relationship and I don’t trust men and never will ever again in my life — I’ve not had a relationship since prison.
“I look like a woman and I think if a transgender person is genuine and they are living as the opposite sex, then they should be housed in a female prison, even if you’re in a wing on your own.
“You shouldn’t be subjected to sexual assault. You are serving a punishment for an error you made in your life.”
