Several of the individuals behind the lawsuit have extensive and disturbing criminal histories. “We are living in a mass psychosis, and one where women and girls are paying the highest price.”
A lawsuit demanding that Oregon house transgender-identifying male inmates in women's prisons is being driven by some of the state's most violent offenders.
A report from Reduxx claims that several inmates behind a class-action lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) include a convicted child sex offender, a rapist, and a man serving decades in prison for murdering his girlfriend. The case, S.D. and J.F. v. Mike Rees, challenges Oregon's policy of evaluating prison placements for transgender-identifying inmates on a case-by-case basis. The plaintiffs are arguing that housing biological males in men's prisons violates their constitutional rights and exposes them to discrimination and abuse. In April, a federal judge ordered Oregon corrections officials to reassess the housing of transgender inmates and consider transfers based on gender identity rather than solely biological sex.
Several of the individuals behind the lawsuit have extensive and disturbing criminal histories. One plaintiff identified in court filings as "J.F." was identified by Reduxx as Jessica Anne Marie Foust, formerly known as John Jay Chapman. According to court records cited by the outlet, Chapman was sentenced to 25 years in prison for raping a developmentally disabled woman at an adult foster home operated by his mother. While incarcerated, Chapman was later convicted of assaulting correctional officers.
Another inmate involved in the litigation, identified by Reduxx as "Zera Lola Zombie," was convicted of beating his girlfriend, Samantha Brown, to death in 2014. Brown left behind four children. According to Reduxx, Zombie has repeatedly sued the state over prison housing arrangements and was ultimately transferred to Oregon's women's prison system after successfully bringing legal action against corrections officials. Reduxx further identified another participant in the lawsuit as "Lillithia Moon Blood-Gaia," a convicted child sex offender serving a 24-year sentence. Court records cited by the outlet indicate Blood-Gaia was convicted on multiple charges stemming from the sexual abuse of a young girl.
The revelations have intensified concerns around gender-identity-based prison policies, and provoked a storm online. "Such grim reading. We are living in a mass psychosis, and one where women and girls are paying the highest price," one X user warned.
https://twitter.com/avid_reader9/status/2069119436422893933?s=20
"I blame the people of Oregon and the politicians. They are allowing male prisoners to torture women prisoners," said another.
https://twitter.com/MaureenSaysNo/status/2069084397010137270?s=20
U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark D. Clarke sided with the plaintiffs at the preliminary injunction stage, writing that the record before the court demonstrated transgender inmates faced elevated risks of violence and sexual assault, despite the case being advanced in part by offenders convicted of rape, child sexual abuse, and murder.
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