Ashlee Inscoe has long identified as female, despite people trying to gender her as male since childhood. The State of North Carolina has been no different. Ashlee is incarcerated and intersex. Even having now received gender-affirming surgery, the Department of Public Safety continues to deny her transfer to a women’s prison, prompting the constant threat of sexual violence while also denying her identity. She “battles thoughts of giving up” every day.
Ashlee recently shared her harrowing experience with Cierra Cobb on the Black Light Mass Incarceration show, including the source of her strength to keep going:
“I look deep down inside, I look deep within my soul so I’ll have legs to stand on, and I push and I persevere. And I’m like I can’t give up because if I do the fight’d be over and I can’t help nobody else. I can’t do something to make a difference in another person’s life. And I look at that because I realize now getting older that my decisions affect other people. And that, even if it helps one person, then it was worthwhile. I don’t want what happened to me to ever be in vain.“
Listening and sharing her story is one way that you can be in solidarity with Ashlee in her struggle. She also loves to hear from people.
Listen to the episode and find Ashlee’s contact info on Podbean →