S.F. rally shows
support for trans woman said to be prison rape victim

Approximately 100 members of the Trans/Gender Variant in Prison Committee gathered in front of the Civic Center Courthouse in San Francisco on Monday morning to show solidarity with a transgender female prisoner who is suing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for failing to protect her from being raped repeatedly at Folsom State Prison in 2006, according to a statement released by the group. The protesters, dressed in red and carrying signs, covered their mouths "to symbolically demonstrate how our communities' cries for help go unheard and unheeded in prison, and how we are retaliated against for raising our voices," the press release states.

The silent protest was in honor of Alexis Giraldo, who allegedly requested help from prison staff for the attacks during her time at Folsom only to have her pleas ignored. Group members, many of whom are also transgender survivors of prison sexual assault and rape, are also demanding improved measures for dealing with transgender inmates. (The Advocate)