A transgender woman in a North Carolina prison is lobbying to have sex reassignment surgery while incarcerated.
Kanautica Zayre-Brown, a biological man who identifies as woman, is the first transgender prisoner to be transferred from one prison to another for reasons related to a preferred gender, but that did not do enough in her fight to be seen as a woman, according to a report.
A team of doctors and medical specialists at the University of North Carolina Transgender Health Program said the procedure is medically necessary.
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However, officials will reportedly not permit the procedure.
“Maybe because they haven’t dealt with this situation before, they’re still trying to learn to deal with it,” Zayre-Brown said. “But it’s been a really bad experience.”
Zayre-Brown was detained in 2017 and sentenced on charges of obtaining property by false pretenses and insurance fraud.
She was placed in several all-male facilities, where she feared rape and violent attacks, the report stated.
In 2019, she won a transfer to a woman’s facility, where she no longer has the same level of fear regarding beatings or rape, according to the report.
The struggle to be recognized continued there, she said.
“I thought it would be so much better,” Zayre-Brown said. “The staff is not willing to adapt.”
Staff at the facility allegedly misgendered Zayre-Brown and identified her by her name assigned at birth, the report stated.
Zayre-Brown has had some sex reassignment surgery previously but only feels “90%” of the way to a complete transition, according to the report.
Her first request for the procedure was denied by the state.
#Transgender prisoner fighting for gender-affirming surgery https://t.co/ynKrhjhcGz #ncpol via @ncpolicywatch #ncpol #LGBTQ @ACLU_NC
— NC Policy Watch (@NCPolicyWatch) November 5, 2021
“Kanautica attempted to appeal that under the new policy,” said Jaclyn Maffetore, the ACLU staff attorney handling the case.
“She was told the denial took place under the old policy and was told to start all over again near the end of 2019. She did. Then, COVID happened.”
The prison system needs to catch up with the medical community in cases such as Zayre-Brown’s, Maffetore said.
“Gender dysphoria is very serious,” Maffetore said. “Among other things, it’s responsible for the high suicide rate among trans folks.”
The attorney is willing to do whatever it takes to advocate on Zayre-Brown’s behalf, including legal action, NC Policy Watch reported.
“We’re happy to have the spotlight on Kanautica, the struggles she has had, and her story,” Maffetore said. “But this is much bigger than just one person.”
Brad Deen, a communications officer for prisons with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, told the Washington Examiner that specifics cannot be released.
“North Carolina General Statutes and federal HIPAA law prohibit the release of information pertaining to an individual’s medical or confidential prison records,” he said.
Staff at the prison where Zayre-Brown is held have been trained on transgender issues and how to address a transgender offender, Deen said.
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“What we can tell you is that requests for transgender accommodations, which would include medical procedures, by policy are reviewed by a multidisciplinary committee,” he said.
