A transgender woman in New York has achieved a significant settlement with Broome County after experiencing violence, discrimination and the denial of medical care while in custody at Broome County Jail.
Broome County will adopt new policies affirming the rights of transgender people in the jail after a woman said she was discriminated against while in custody at the jail.
Makyyla Holland, a 25-year-old Black transgender woman, reached a settlement with the county Thursday after filing a lawsuit in 2022 saying she was the victim of multiple forms of harassment, including physical abuse, misgendering and refusal of access to medication and commissary items during her time in at the jail in 2021.
As part of the settlement, the county will pay Holland $160,000 for the harms she suffered, according to the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) and Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF).
"No one should ever have to go through what I went through at the Broome County Jail and I am so grateful that with this new policy, hopefully, no one else ever will," Holland said in a written statement. "This policy and policies like it can impact a lot of my community and I will continue to fight to ensure that no other trans person in New York or anywhere has to endure what I did."
Under the settlement, the county is changing its policies to comply with federal and state laws, according to a statement from the NYCLU and TLDEF. Specifically, the county will:
This policy isn't the first to be enacted in the Southern Tier. In August 2020, the NYCLU and TLDEF reached a settlement with Steuben County, which adopted similar policies.
"Today we celebrate the stunning, transgender rights victory of courageous Makyyla Holland and the NYCLU in their lawsuit against Broome County, the Sheriff, Undersheriff, officers, and medical staff," Justice and Unity in the Southern Tier (JUST) said in a written statement Thursday. "This is a wonderful outcome, and we look forward to observing its implementation at the County jail and other facilities."
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Broome County did not comment on the matter but referred to the jail administration.
"While this settlement stems from an incident and subsequent lawsuit that occurred before I was elected Sheriff, I’m pleased we were able to amicably reach a resolution that establishes clear LGBTI Guidelines, which were previously nonexistent, to address the rights of LGBTI inmates while maintaining the safety and security of individuals both housed and working at the Broome County Correctional Facility," Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar said.
"It’s another important step forward in pragmatically and safely modernizing policies to meet the needs of those we serve and protect as we work to build a better, safer community for everyone in Broome County.”
During Holland's first period of incarceration between January and February 2021, the lawsuit states Holland faced several injustices, including:
Between June and July 2021, the lawsuit claims Holland’s second period of incarceration in the Broome County jail saw similar injustices, such as:
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These denials caused horrible withdrawal symptoms, according to the documents, and she had to postpone her gender-affirming surgery.
Throughout Holland’s stay in the Broome County jail, the lawsuit states she was harassed and misgendered repeatedly and was forced to shower in full view of the male staff and the men in custody.
Holland was denied access to undergarments, hygiene products and commissary items routinely afforded to women in the Broome County jail, according to the documents.
The lawsuit also states Holland reported some instances to one of the correctional officers, as well as submitted several grievance slips, which Holland’s lawsuit claims she never received any responses to.
Emily Barnes is the New York State Team Consumer Advocate Reporter for the USA Today Network. Contact Emily at [email protected] or on Twitter @byemilybarnes. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
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