Isla Bryson, a trans woman, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for two attacks on women in Clydebank and Glasgow in 2016 and 2019. Bryson came out as trans while awaiting trial, sparking intense debate over where trans prisoners should be housed.
Despite having spent time in a women’s prison while awaiting trial, Bryson will not be housed in an all-women’s prison, according to first minister Nicola Sturgeon. The UK’s ministry of justice has also introduced a nationwide ban on violent trans prisoners being housed in female prisons.
During sentencing, the judge stated there was a high risk of reoffending, and following release, Bryson will be supervised for three years. However, Bryson’s gender identity has been a point of contention, with Nicola Sturgeon casting doubt on its validity and suggesting that Bryson is “almost certainly” faking being trans.
One of Bryson’s victims, Shonna Graham, has also expressed doubt about Bryson’s gender identity, suggesting that transitioning was a “joke” to the rapist. Graham believes that Bryson should serve time in a men’s prison, stating that “you can’t do a crime as a man then want to transition once you’ve been charged with it.”
The case has fueled ongoing debate over trans prisoner housing and prison reform, with advocates for trans rights arguing that trans prisoners should be housed according to their gender identity to ensure their safety and well-being while serving their sentences.