Danny Waxwing

The Project

The Trans in Prison (TIP) Justice Project focuses advocacy at the intersections of disability, gender, and racial justice by using direct representation, policy advocacy, coalition-building, and community organizing to address the acute needs of transgender and gender diverse people imprisoned in Washington State.

Transgender prisoners face devastating conditions: appalling rates of sexual and physical violence, disproportionate punishment in solitary confinement, denial of medically necessary care, incessant harassment and dehumanization, and denial of basic self-expression. These harsh conditions are further compounded for trans prisoners with disabilities, particularly those with mental health concerns. The TIP Justice Project balances immediate direct service needs with advocacy for systems-level changes in prisons across Washington State.

Fellowship Highlights

In the past year, Danny has:

• Provided brief advice, resources, and referrals to 486 individuals, including 272 letters to prisoners containing legal rights information and resources, 174 phone appointments, and 70 in-person visits;
• Provided successful representation for 3 legal name change cases, and developed resource guide for incarcerated pro se legal name change petitioners;
• Successfully advocated for policy changes across the state prison system and at the level of local county jails, which includes participation in WA State DOC Transgender Policy Workgroup;
• Successfully advocated for facility to change practice of segregating incarcerating transgender women;
• Launched a statewide investigation, collaborating with trans and gender diverse prisoners to document rights violations, survival strategies, and identify advocacy priorities, with 21 interviews completed;
• Engaged Fenwick & West attorneys in legal research.

Next Steps

In the next year, Danny plans to:

• Publish and distribute a comprehensive resource guide for trans prisoners;
• Develop materials for and offer know-your-rights workshops to trans prisoner support groups;
• Expand access to fee waivers for indigent legal name change petitioners through pro se resources and potential litigation;
• Increase access to transition-related health care for people in state prisons;
• Conduct CLE for and engage Fenwick & West attorneys in pro bono name change representation.