In the past, hormone therapy was only available to Texas transgender prisoners who were already undergoing it before they were incarcerated. But now, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is making it easier for these prisoners to access hormone therapy. The updated policy took effect in August,reports The Texas Observer. Prisoners diagnosed with gender dysphoria while in custody are now eligible to receive treatment.
The hormone therapy consists of estrogen for trans women and testosterone for trans men. It is estimated that there are 1,000 transgender inmates in Texas state prisons.
Several federal courts have ruled that denying trans inmates medically necessary care violates their Eighth Amendment rights. Studies have shown that trans inmates who receive this care are at a much lower risk for suicide.