Help Trans Woman Establish Life After Prison

My name is Xy, and I'm fundraising on behalf of my dear friend Vanessa who will be released from prison in October.

Michael is the temporary "beneficiary". He will be handling the funds until Vanessa can open her own bank account. Vanessa will receive 100% of the donations.

Update 9/3/2023:

I've lowered the goal from 5k to 3k to make reaching the goal more attainable. Right now the priority is to secure funds for rent. Thanks to support from the Austin community, I'm in the process of acquiring her material needs through donations and gift cards. Anything over 3k from this fundraiser will further aid her housing stability and material needs. Vanessa is excited to get a job, but most options available to her will be low-paying. Let's make sure Vanessa's basic needs are met so she can rest and ease into her newfound freedom.

Vanessa, a 45-year-old transgender woman, has been incarcerated for 28 years, primarily in administrative segregation (a form of solitary confinement). During this time she has dedicated herself to artwork, understanding the legal system, and striving to improve conditions for trans prisoners in Texas.

I began writing to Vanessa in 2015 in response to a call for action by trans political prisoner Marius Mason for the International Day of Trans Prisoner Solidarity (January 22). Through a mailing list provided by Black and Pink, the collective I was part of corresponded with trans and queer prisoners, eventually creating a series of zines featuring their essays, poetry, artwork, and creative expressions. Vanessa, who was among the first people I reached out to, was a frequent contributor to the J22 zines, and we formed an immediate bond. Our friendship persisted through letters, numerous visits, and collaborative activism.

Vanessa consistently linked her personal struggles with other trans women in prison. In 2016, she brought a lawsuit against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to demand gender reassignment surgery and advocate for gender-affirming care for all transgender prisoners in Texas. Representing herself, her case was ultimately dismissed. However, her sustained pressure, and the media attention it garnered, potentially contributed to TDCJ's improvement of hormone replacement therapy and provision of gender-affirming items such as bras.

That same year, Vanessa filed another lawsuit following a public Facebook comment by a prison guard suggesting violent harm towards her. Although this case was also dismissed, it shed light on the daily inhumane treatment and abuse faced by prisoners. Both lawsuits have been the subject of numerous case studies, including ones from Harvard Law Review, Nevada Law Journal, and Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality. Since then, she has continued to file grievances and exhaust every option within her means to advocate on behalf of trans and queer prisoners.

For more information on her lawsuits:

Online Posts Appear to Show TDCJ Officers Encouraging Violence Against Trans Prisoner

https://www.texasobserver.org/tdcj-officers-facebook-trans-threats/

Texas Judge Dismisses Trans Prisoner’s Lawsuit Seeking Gender Confirmation Surgery

https://www.texasobserver.org/tdcj-gender-confirmation-dismissal/

She's an amazing artist, creating beautiful illustrations and various crafts using creative methods despite limited access to supplies. She aspires to become a full-time artist in the future, whether by selling her original artwork or mastering the art of tattooing.

After multiple set-offs, Vanessa has finally been granted parole. Her release is scheduled for October 2023. She's elated, yet fully aware that reintegration will be a long, daunting journey.

Everything raised will contribute to her aspirations for the future while she adjusts to life outside of prison.

If you’d like to correspond with Vanessa directly, you can write to her via Securus. She recently got a tablet and can respond to messages electronically. https://securustech.online/

Add her contact info: Scott Gibson, TDCJ #00699888

Keep in mind, all mail to prisoners is surveilled.

If you’d like more information on writing to a prisoner, check out this helpful zine: https://atxanarchistblackcross.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/writing_to_prisoners_faq.pdf