ABC News: Transgender woman reaches settlement with NSW corrective services over her treatment in prison

Excerpt from ABC News:

A transgender woman has settled a discrimination case against NSW corrective services and police after she was held in a men’s prison for weeks and says she was denied sufficient access to hormone therapy.

Melissa Yarnold reached a confidential settlement with state government agencies after a lengthy battle in the Australian Human Rights Commission over her time in custody in 2020, which she described as “hell on Earth”.

Ms Yarnold told her story to ABC News to advocate for the NSW legal and justice system to be safer for trans and gender diverse people.

“Nobody should have to go through what I went through,” she said.

Justice and Equity Centre CEO Jonathon Hunyor said the criminal justice system “failed” Ms Yarnold.

“Under Australian law, a person shouldn’t be subjected to sexual harassment or discrimination because of their gender, including when they are dealing with the criminal legal system,” Mr Hunyor said.

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