Written by: Marianne Partisan

Colorado is on the verge of becoming the first state in the country to establish segregated holding cells for transgender women in prison, pending approval from a judge. This development comes in response to a multimillion-dollar class-action lawsuit filed by transgender inmates against the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) in 2019, alleging discrimination, harassment, and assault within the prison system.

Court filings reveal that a consent decree is under consideration, which would introduce significant changes, including surgical sex changes and hormone treatment for transgender inmates.

The court may also require the state of Colorado to pay out a substantial sum, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 per plaintiff. Several are currently serving life sentences without parole for homicide and assault.

For instance, Keith Rivers, now identifying as "Cupcake," is serving a life sentence for a 1999 murder outside a tavern. According to the class action lawsuit, Rivers has made numerous requests for surgical treatment and competent talk therapy related to gender dysphoria, which have been denied by the CDOC.

Another plaintiff, Andre Karpierz, known as "Lavinya," is also serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder. Karpierz claims to have suffered from severe depression related to gender dysphoria and lived in constant fear of sexual assault while being held in male facilities, according to CDOC records, provided to Fox News Digital.

Jordan Gallentine, referred to as "Jane," is serving prison time for "attempted suicide by cop" and assault. The lawsuit states that Gallentine experiences severe anxiety, depression, and a persistent fear of sexual assault and violence due to the lack of medical and mental health treatment.

Corwin Raven, known as "Kandice," is currently serving time for two separate assault charges and is scheduled for release in 2026. Raven has allegedly attempted suicide twice and self-castration as a means of coping with severe gender dysphoria. The lawsuit claims that Raven's requests for transition-related surgery have been denied by the CDOC.

While Colorado is not the first state to expand facilities to provide transgender hormone treatment or surgical sex changes, this case highlights the ongoing debate surrounding these measures within the criminal justice system.

The Colorado Republican Party chairman, Dave Williams, speaking to Fox News, criticized the consent decree as another step taken by the "woke left" to disrupt the criminal justice system, arguing that taxpayers should not bear the cost of accommodating individuals, especially those who have committed homicide.

READ MORE:

• TRANSGENDER MUSLIM INMATE SERVING 55-YEAR SENTENCE FILES $150K LAWSUIT OVER HIJAB DISPUTE IN PRISON

• CONTROVERSIAL COLORADO BILL SEEKS TO EASE NAME CHANGES FOR TRANSGENDER FELONS

• COLORADO HAS BEGUN HIRING INCARCERATED PROFESSORS TO TEACH INMATES

• LAWMAKERS PRESENT BILL TO GIVE PRISONERS THE RIGHT TO VOTE, IGNITING CONTROVERSY

If approved, the consent decree would bring about several changes, including the establishment of two separate housing units for transgender women inmates: the "Voluntary Transgender Unit" (VTU) at the men's Sterling Correctional Facility and the "Integration Unit" (IU) at the Denver Women's Correctional Facility.

The decree aims to enhance safety measures and protect transgender women from victimization within men's prisons, according to Paula Greisen, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, as outlined in her court filings.

The decision on whether to implement these changes will be closely watched, as it has the potential to set a precedent for other states.