Welcome to Transform Dane. Transform Dane is a small and scrappy movement with a lot of work to do. We demand systemic change in mass incarceration of transgender people. We aim to amplify voices by gathering stories of experiences other trans and gender-nonconforming individuals have had in Wisconsin jails and prisons. We want to offer safe resources for trans and gender-nonconforming individuals, their friends, and their families. This site will also be the home of the blog, “Dear Mom…I’m Still Me,” the story of one man’s experience on each side of the law in Dane County, Wisconsin.
These Three Truths
(Content warning: Gender dysphoria, Incarceration, Transphobia, Law enforcement, Home invasion, Rape, Mental health, Suicidal ideation, Self-harm, Victim blaming, Alcoholism, Drug addiction) Dictacted 12.2.24 from Dane County Jail, Madison, WI Dear Mom, You know I've been trying to keep this light where I can, but at this point I need to make a couple things clear. There are three very important truths I want you to understand about my current jail stay. Truth #1 - Immediately prior to coming here, my home, the place I was virtually tethered to by the band around my ankle, where I was legally told I
The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves
(Content warning: Solitary confinement, Incarceration, Mental health, Medical neglect, Alcoholism, Drug addiction, Law enforcement, Suicidal Ideation, Restraints) Dictacted 12.1.24 from Dane County Jail, Madison, WI Dear Mom, You get used to a lot of noise in jail, but this morning was something special. All of a sudden we heard smacking, louder than I’ve ever heard, accompanied by quite a lot of yelling for 9:00 in the morning. I told you before that it’s been pretty peaceful in our cell block, and it has been. But next door, not so much. Some women here were more concerned with the drama. Who
Not Even an Alcoholic
(Content warning: Alcoholism, Recovery, Suicidal ideation, Mental health) Dictacted 11.28.24 from Dane County Jail, Madison, WI Dear Mom, Happy Thanksgiving, Mom. I wish we were spending it together. I was happy I got to talk to you today. It was really, really hard. But I'm happy I got to talk to you. Like I told you, we had turkey, mashed potatoes, carrots, and a whole mess of gravy to go with it. You know I don't really like gravy, but I ate it because the food needed all the help it could get. You perfected the art of the turkey
Arriba Abajo Al Centro Pa’ Dentro
(Content warning: Alcoholism, Addiction, Trauma, Gender dysphoria) Dictacted 11.27.24 from Dane County Jail, Madison, WI Dear Mom, Word has made it back to me at the jail that I have readers who don’t know me at all, let alone as well as you know me. In any case, I am starting to feel that I need to back my story up a little bit. The previous entries, in all their brutal detail, are out there, and no longer live in my head rent-free. Recounting them here has exorcised some of the demons. I told you what I needed to say,
Hugs Not Jugs
(Content warning: Transphobia, Microaggressions, AFAB chest terminology/slang, Discrimination, Incarceration, Law enforcement, Alcoholism) Dictated 12.9.24 from Dane County Jail, Madison, WI Dear Mom, Before I begin, I should warn you that what you're about to read, you’d constitute “being a smartass.” You may even detect a hint of sarcasm. Credit where credit is due; the world should know you raised me well. There was just so much contrariness stamped in my brain that there was no hope to be had in containing at all. But you also raised me to be respectful of the heroism demonstrated by members of law enforcement,
Six Floors and a Lifetime Apart
(Content warning: Incarceration, law enforcement, suicide) Dictacted 11.25.24 from Dane County Jail, Madison, WI Dear Mom, Well, that one was a lot, wasn't it? I'm sorry, Mom, I would say I hope I didn't upset you, but I know that's not possible. I upset the people who had to edit it; I'm upset myself. It's upsetting, to say the least. I don't know if I explained it before, but that's how I'm posting all this. Remember when I worked for the police department, and we dictated our reports into the phone, and then a stenographer typed them? It turns out
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