25 Aug 2015

Activists plan hunger strike over trans prisoner

6:22 pm on 25 August 2015

Transgender and queer activists are planning a hunger strike if an imprisoned trans woman is not transferred to a women's prison.

The group No Pride in Prisons said Jade Follett asked to transferred from Rimutaka men's prison in June, but had not had a response.

Rimutaka Prison director Chris Burns said Corrections only received the request last weekend.

Mr Burns said Corrections was treating it with urgency.

No Pride in Prisons spokesperson Jennifer Sheilds said they wanted Corrections to release information about trans prisoners and the facilities they were being held in.

The group said if Ms Follett was not moved by Thursday, then they would stage a hunger strike.