PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kennedy Felder, Member of the Public
2:54:55
·
177 sec
Kennedy Felder provided testimony on transgender housing in NYC Department of Correction facilities, emphasizing the importance of proper housing for transgender inmates and criticizing DOC's current practices. Felder shared personal experiences and read testimony from a former correction officer who oversaw the first transgender housing unit.
- Highlighted the dangers of placing transgender inmates in housing units that don't match their gender identity
- Criticized DOC for lying about policies related to wigs and medical care for transgender inmates
- Emphasized the vulnerability of transgender individuals in detention facilities and the need for humane treatment
Kennedy Felder
2:54:55
Hi.
2:54:56
I'm how's everybody doing today?
2:55:00
My name is Kennedy Feltzer, and I wanna thank everybody for coming.
2:55:05
So first off, DLC, that's such a lie.
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Could you imagine if you misbehaved and someone said to you that you're gonna go to the man's jail?
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Not the box, but the man's jail.
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Like, that puts someone's mental health.
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In Limbo, and I think it's messed up.
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But today, I'm gonna be reading a testimony on behalf of one of the officers that worked at the transgender housing unit.
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In 2018.
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I would like to thank the members of city hall for allowing me the opportunity to speak today on an issue that I believe is of critical importance to the state dignity and human rights of incarcerated individuals.
2:55:44
Within NYCDLC.
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As a former correction officer, I had the privilege of responsibility of overseeing the establishment and supervision of the country's 1st transgender housing unit within a detention facility from that experience I have witnessed firsthand writing repetitive, but this type of housing exists within our system.
2:56:03
When we tell about the purpose of incarceration, we often emphasize, the concepts of just this rehabilitation and public safety, but I believe one of the most overlooked aspects of our responsibility is ensuring the in ensuring the humane treatment of every person in custody regardless of their gender identity.
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Transgender individuals represent a particularly vulnerable population and any detention facility, often facing extreme levels of violence, harassment, discrimination simply because of their identity without proper housing, transgender inmates are disproportionately at risk for physical and emotional abuse.
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And in some cases, their lives are put in danger.
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I just off aside from her testimony, I would like to really emphasize how important it is for you guys to know that when you take someone out of their gender housing and place them in a male unit.
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It's dangerous.
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They're gonna be sexually harassed.
2:56:59
Priya does not come quick enough.
2:57:01
Priya does not care.
2:57:02
DLC is lying about the wig too.
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I was locked up in 2018, and there was an inmate there who wore a wig.
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She was a female cisgender inmate.
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She had a wig.
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She personally told me she had to wig for medical reasons.
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So what is the difference between a transgender female inmate not having a wig?
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That person I was talking, they lie.
2:57:23
Another thing.
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I was trans transferred to go to the hospital to have surgery, and DLC didn't even do the proper research that to understand and know that Bellevue cannot give me the proper surgeries that are needed.
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That was my top surgery.
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So they wasted my time for 9 months without proper research, which shows that they did not care.
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I just feel like DLC said it was a hot mess, and I'm sorry about this, and thank you for your time, everybody.
2:57:51
Have a great day.
