Vermont passes landmark bill protecting trans prisoners’ rights
Vermont has passed a new bill protecting trans inmates (Getty Images)
Vermont lawmakers have passed a sweeping, first-of-its-kind bill expanding protections for transgender people in prison, marking one of the strongest state-level responses yet to the Trump administration’s escalating prison policies targeting trans people.
The legislation, titled H.550, which was passed yesterday (21 May), acknowledges that trans incarcerated people face heightened risks of abuse, harassment and sexual violence, and requires prison staff to respect inmates’ gender identities and undergo gender-responsive training, as reported by Transitics via Substack.
The bill also allows incarcerated trans people to request transfers to facilities that align with their gender identity, with reviews conducted alongside medical and mental health professionals experienced in gender-affirming care. In some cases, Vermont could even transfer prisoners to facilities in other states, including Colorado, which recently established dedicated housing units for trans women.
The move comes as the Trump administration continues pushing policies that advocates warn endanger trans people in federal custody, including attempts to strip access to gender-affirming care, weaken Prison Rape Elimination Act protections and house trans women in men’s prisons. Vermont’s bill explicitly directs the state to continue complying with pre-Trump federal protections for trans inmates and lays the groundwork for future legal protections for gender-affirming care in prison settings.
The legislation passed with broad bipartisan support, including backing from most Republican senators, and now heads to Republican Governor Phil Scott’s desk. Scott, who has previously supported LGBTQ+ rights protections, is expected to sign the bill into law.
Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.
