Transgender jailbirds in NYC can score wigs, hair extensions, chest binders, tucking undergarments, prosthetics and similar items under a far-left Brooklyn Democrat’s woke new bill — which might slap taxpayer’s with the tab.
But it’s not only detainees who’d be able to express their true selves.
Guards on Rikers Island and other city jails would also have access to such “gender-affirming items and medical devices” under Councilwoman Crystal Hudson’s legislation, which she plans to introduce at Thursday’s City Council meeting.
“Our goal as legislators should be to affirm New Yorkers’ civil liberties,” Hudson told The Post. “Providing greater access to gender-affirming care to transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and/or intersex (TGNCNBI) people in our city’s jails is part of achieving this mission.”
It’s unclear whether taxpayers, detainees or outside sources would ultimately pick up the tab for “packers,” stand-to-pee prosthetics and other gender-affirming equipment, because the legislation leaves that decision in the hands of the city’s Department of Correction.
Meanwhile, The Post learned this week the DOC quietly began providing chest binders to trans detainees last year.
The agency said it received the binders — which go for $14.99 or higher on Amazon.com — as a donation, but refused to say from whom.
The DOC also said in a statement it “is committed to affirming the identities of the individuals in our care” and is reviewing the legislation.
Critics, however, slammed the legislation, saying it would create serious safety issues as fake penises, binders and other items can be used by detainees as weapons or to conceal them.
“While COBA fully supports individuals having the freedom to affirm their own gender identity, we cannot support any legislation that compromises the safety and security of our officers and the people in our custody,” Benny Boscio, president of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, told The Post.
“Allowing inmates access to prosthetics would also enable them to hide drugs and weapons, such as make-shift razor blades, that could easily be used to assault other inmates and our officers.”
Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Queens) called the bill “ridiculous” and “unconscionable.”
“The far left already led the recent push to remove punitive segregation [in city jails], so this is just another way for them to create new havoc and make our jails even more of a safety risk,” she said.
“It would put correction officers, other staff and inmates in danger because these items could be used as weapons or to hide them, so I hope this bill never sees the light of day.”
Forty-two of the 6,135 detainees who were on Rikers Island and other city lockups recently identified as trans, intersex or non-binary, records show.
The DOC said it doesn’t track trans staff.
Under the bill, the DOC would have the power to reject a detainee’s request for gender-affirming items but would have to cite its reasons in writing for review by the Board of Correction and the New York City Commission on Human Rights.
Hudson’s legislation is not unprecedented in New York and in some other parts of the country, but many jail systems currently providing gender-affirming items only did so after being sued.
Upstate Broome County last year reached a landmark settlement with a former transgender female detainee that led to sweeping changes in how it deals with the trans, intersex and non-binary people in custody at its 536-bed jail.
This included picking up the costs for inmates to buy gender-affirming items as a medically prescribed treatment for gender dysphoria, the severe discomfort when a person believes their biological sex does not match their gender identity.
In 2020, a similar settlement was ironed out for transgender people in custody in upstate Steuben County.
“Providing gender-affirming care is about basic human dignity,” insisted Allie Bohm, senior policy counsel for New York Civil Liberties Union, which assisted the plaintiffs in the Broome and Steuben cases.
“Yet, too often, our city jails fail to comply with their legal and constitutional obligations to provide basic care for people in their custody, which can lead to serious medical problems for trans people who are incarcerated.
“As jails across the state and country have recognized the importance of access to gender-affirming care, it is critical to ensure incarcerated New Yorkers have access to the care they deserve.”
However, Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens) said he believes Hudson’s bill would compromise safety and lead to “reckless spending” at taxpayers’ expense.
“This is just another attempt to screw hardworking New Yorkers with more insanity,” he said.
