Oregon to Give $167,500 to Transgender Inmate Denied Hormone Therapy

ashley.rae | November 2, 2017
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The state of Oregon will be giving more than $150,000 to a transgender inmate who claims that she was denied hormone treatment because she is trans.

OregonLive reports the Oregon Department of Corrections has agreed to pay $167,500 to settle the suit made by Michalle (also spelled "Michale" and "Michelle") Wright in addition to $100,000 in legal fees.

Wright’s suit claims she was exposed to “cruel and unusual punishment” as the state denied her hormone treatments as part of her transition even though she had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria.  According to a previous OregonLive report, Wright had asked for hormone therapy “nearly 100 times” and attempted to castrate herself while incarcerated. Wright also reportedly attempted suicide numerous times.

In a statement, Colette Peters from the Department of Corrections said that while the department refutes many of the claims in Wright’s case, they “never disputed the basic principles that transgender individuals within our care and custody should have access to quality medical and mental health care, and that they should be treated in a respectful, inclusive manner.”

The Department of Corrections claimed, in addition to the monetary settlement, that they are considering allowing Wright to have a curling iron, a flat iron, an electric razor, and a bra.

The settlement also requires Oregon to hire prison counselors and allow transgender inmates access to “products available to women” at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, which is a facility for women.

Wright was reportedly arrested in 2013 and was convicted of attempted armed robbery.

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