WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2022 — Women’s Liberation Front (WoLF), a national feminist organization, testified in opposition to Maryland House Bill 453 (HB453). If enacted, this bill would allow male offenders to request transfer to women’s prisons if they claim to identify as “transgender” or “non-binary.” The bill does not make exceptions for male prisoners who have been convicted of rape or domestic assault. 

WoLF board member, Kacie Mills, said in her testimony:

“I strongly oppose HB453. It claims to be anti-discriminatory, about dignity and respect, but it would put every female inmate at real and immediate risk…Identifying as “non-binary” or “transgender” does not change your biological sex.”

WoLF advisory council member, Jennifer Chavez, offered the following testimony about the bill: 

“This bill recklessly endangers women who are already some of the most vulnerable humans in the nation.”

By request of the committee, WoLF also sent a follow-up email with more information on prison gender identity policies.

California has enacted a very similar bill, and incarcerated women have already faced devastating consequences. WoLF has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit challenging this law on behalf of four incarcerated women and the advocacy organization, Woman II Woman.

WoLF has conducted polling that shows the vast majority of Americans, regardless of political affiliation, do not approve of housing men in women’s prisons, regardless of their claimed “gender identity.” In light of this data and the known risks to women and girls, WoLF urges rejection of HB453. 

For more information about our lawsuit, see here.

For more information about HB453, see our blog post here.

Women’s Liberation Front (WoLF) is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to protecting, advancing, and restoring the rights of women and girls through legal argument, policy advocacy, and public education.

For media inquiries please contact: media@womensliberationfront.org