PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Mik Kinkead, Staff Attorney at Legal Aid Society, on TGNCNBI Rights in NYC Jails
2:45:31
·
167 sec
Mik Kinkead, a Staff Attorney at the Legal Aid Society, testified in support of several bills aimed at improving the treatment of transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and intersex (TGNCNBI) individuals in NYC jails. Kinkead emphasized the urgent need for reforms, citing years of harm and lack of progress by the Department of Correction.
- Strongly supported Intro 625, which would ensure TGNCNBI people are housed safely and according to their gender identity
- Called for amendments to Intro 152 to strengthen the TGNCNBI task force's effectiveness
- Advocated for Intro 1027 to provide access to gender-affirming items and medical devices in jails
Mik Kinkead
2:45:31
Hi.
2:45:31
Thank you so much.
2:45:32
I'm going to try and stick to the 3 minutes.
2:45:34
I appreciate the extension of time, and I appreciate the opportunity to testify today.
2:45:38
I am submitting fairly significantly written testimony with many datasets, personal stories, and citations to policy.
2:45:44
And I really hope that everyone is able to read that because it goes into detail as to why 625,152, and 1024 are so crucial.
2:45:52
So legal aids fully supports intro 625 as Bill would insure TGNCNBI people are housed as safely as possible along custody getting the presumption that our human rights do not stop upon arrest.
2:46:02
New York City is very happy to highlight these rights every June in order to attract tourists who could capitalize on our liberation struggles.
2:46:08
But then denies us our humanity upon arrest.
2:46:10
Intro 625 will presume gender lined housing, which can be overcome by stating it does not feel safe, so what DOC said earlier is incorrect, or the department can overcome by stating a current danger of committing a gender based violence against someone else.
2:46:23
I think I've been coming to the city council for years to tell you stories of harm.
2:46:26
I have even more stories in my testimony.
2:46:28
You'll hear more stories today.
2:46:30
In 2019, the city council held an oversight hearing on this very issue where this bill was first proposed.
2:46:35
Since 2019, the department has done nothing to further the housing rights of TGNCNBI people.
2:46:42
We've been waiting for 5 years.
2:46:43
We cannot wait longer.
2:46:45
It is very clear in this situation that the department is the one in current danger.
2:46:49
They are committing the harm against us because of our gender identities.
2:46:54
Until a 152 extended the duration of the task force.
2:46:56
I have been on the task force since its inception in 2019.
2:47:00
It needs significant amendments to ensure that the task force has the information and authority needed to be effective in my testimony, there are significant amendments to the bill.
2:47:11
My testimony also details many instances of stonewalling refusal to propp rate lack of knowledge illustrated by the department We urge the city council to make several important amendments to ensure that we can actually do our jobs.
2:47:22
Intuit 1027 requires that the department provide access to general voting items and medical devices.
2:47:27
General, I appreciate your line of questioning.
2:47:29
However, I still don't know how medical device comes in.
2:47:31
For a cisgender person, let alone a transgender person.
2:47:34
I don't believe you ever actually got an answer to that question.
2:47:36
These devices are used every day by TGMCNBI people to affirm identities and to mitigate feelings of dysphoria anxiety and depression, allowing them into the jails as sensible medically sound and proves the lives other people inside and the people who are working who are also then gaining access to these items.
2:47:50
The current building which only requires that the department be consistent with other requests for accommodation.
2:47:55
However, our long history of advocating with the department, it demonstrates that they have a lack of willingness to recognize these items even when medically necessary.
2:48:01
Our clients regularly wait months for walkers, canes, even eyeglasses.
2:48:06
We cannot afford to have this happen again.
2:48:09
We really encourage the city council to investigate and strengthen the language here to make sure the bill is effective.
2:48:13
I would welcome any questions.
2:48:15
This is my life's work.
2:48:16
I'm happy to talk about it at length.
