The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a complaint against the state of Utah and its Department of Corrections (UDOC).
The DoJ is alleging discrimination against a transgender woman in a Utah jail, stating that her gender dysphoria was ignored, resulting in self-surgery.
The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, details that the inmate, after 22 months in custody, resorted to dangerous self-surgery, removing her own testicles due to alleged neglect of her medical needs.
The DoJ accuses the UDOC of failing to provide equal access to healthcare, despite repeated requests for hormone therapy, and not allowing her to purchase female clothing at the commissary, adversely affecting her mental health.
The inmate, who arrived at the UDOC facility in July 2021, made multiple requests for hormone therapy, but her demands were reportedly disregarded.
A diagnosis of gender dysphoria was made in June 2022, with a UDOC-contracted doctor deeming her eligible for treatment.
However, no adequate treatment was provided, leading to the drastic measure of self-surgery.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said individuals with gender dysphoria deserve the same protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act as others with disabilities.
The DoJ is urging the UDOC to apply its general policy of providing appropriate treatment and therapy to all inmates, without discrimination based on gender dysphoria.
In response to the DoJ’s claims, the UDOC stated that they have been working to deal the complex issue and have been surprised by the steps taken by DoJ.
“We have also taken steps on our own, and as a state, to address the needs of inmates while maintaining the highest safety standards. We fundamentally disagree with the DoJ on key issues, and are disappointed with their approach,” the UDOC said in a statement.
