A trans brother has been arrested and being mistreated in the jail. They just set his bail at $150,000. This is in Boise. Here is a link to his story and also a link to help donate to help with his legal funds.
“hi i hope you will read this” is the title of this email that I got. Makes me feel so upset that kids are still going through this crap.
“hi my name is a ive been transitioning now ftm for 3 years, 2 years on t. pre op. im 20 years old. ive been watching all the it gets better videos and saw yours and it makes me cry because i know it wont get better for me. im a drug addict and last year i stole a bunch of ecstacy pills got caught, got put into female prison they pointed at my genitals and laughed told me i wasnt a man. i know im a man, but i get so much shit from court they just dont understand, and im on probation for 3 years and i have a really christian probation officer who always tries to blame my crime on my transition. EVERY single time i see her she makes some rude comment on how im some kind of freak and makes me take drug tests in front of her and makes rude comments. everyday i want to kill myself but i cant get myself to do it but i know it will eventually happen. i wish my life was better i wish i could be somebody not just some criminal because that is not who i am. i want to leave this shit state and i cant. i have a lot of passions but no motivation too presue them. im stuck in a town full of drugs addicts and i want to get out so badly but i cant, i need to save money for tops surgery, i have no job, no one will hire me cause of my background and the way i dress. they keep saying it will get better but what do i have to do to change things? ive tried so hard but i cant fix anything if anything i make everything worse. you are amazing, i wish i could be like you someday.”
This is what I sent him:
Thank you for writing me. I am sure it was not an easy email to send. You remind me a lot of myself when I was younger, I tell you that so you can see that it does get better, But you have to want it to get better. You have to get sober and realize that drugs and alcohol are not something that you can do. When you first take that step to getting your body clean that will open you mind to a clearer thought process. I know this because that’s what I did. I didn’t even start to transition until after I got clean and sober.
Please report that probation officer to someone there. You DO NOT have to deal with that crap. She works for the state and there are laws against harassment. Go to your local GBLTQ center or somewhere like that and talk to someone who can help you. You need to get some professional help. I am not a professional and think that this is the best way for you start feeling good about yourself.
I know you can do it. Just think of me when you are feeling down and remember I did it. I picked myself up from the gutter and made a great life for myself and you can too!
Please keep in touch I would like to know how your doing.
WOOF!!
Buck Angel®
Pioneering Filmmaker, Educator, and Advocate
