ACLU Sues Hawaii for Harassed GLBT Youth
Harassed is an understatement.
Here are some of the incidents that allegedly took place at a youth prison which received a “blistering” federal report last month, according to TheHawaiiChannel.com:
* Youth correctional officers routinely told a lesbian inmate and her girlfriend that their relationship was “bad” and that they were going to hell and referred to the couple’s relationship as “this butchie ____.”
* Male inmates in the facility surrounded another inmate who was perceived to be gay in the shower, threatening him with rape, and once rubbed semen from another inmate into his face in the bathroom. When the boy reported the incidents, Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility put the boy who complained in isolation instead of the harassers.
* A male-to-female transgender inmate was repeatedly verbally abused and preached to by guards who called her “wrong” and “unnatural” and threatened to cut off her hair. After she was transferred to the boys’ unit, she was physically assaulted and groped, often in front of guards, who did nothing. Rather than trying to ensure her safety, HYCF officials segregated her for almost two months and did not allow her to interact with other inmates.
And just this week four male inmates sexually assaulted another boy with a pencil. State First Deputy Attorney General Lisa Ginoza said said the state is “trying to make improvements.” Maybe they should stop trying and start doing.
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