Poem: The Course Of Empire

You called it savage

I called it paradise

Lilac clouds reached 

For the tips of the pines

We sheltered in their branches

And foraged for wild delicacies

Prometheus came and went and then 

Red-gold fires blazed in stone theaters

And the land still gave forth what it could

But we tried to coax out more and more and more

We docked our canoes on the shores of the channel

And soon they were starting to look more like triremes

We paraded over lofty bridges and decked ourselves in silk and gold 

We built aqueducts and cordoned off little circles of wildness in terracotta cradles

So they wouldn’t be ousted by the tide of marble sweeping over the bustling hills

We raised our temples to the sky, we pushed away the clouds

And one day they came down and beheaded all our statues

We killed each other for sport, but we condemned the storm

When she ripped people’s lives from their chests

And we took out our blinding rage on each other 

Because we couldn’t lash out at the odious sky 

When it was all over not a human soul was left

Pillars left to crumble in a mossy embrace

Lands left to heal from the rape of their fruit

Clouds hang low over tranquil waters

The world is back at equilibrium

You call it desolation

I call it freedom

The Disturbing Wave of Anti-Trans Legislation

Though 2021 is far from over, this year marks the highest number of anti-transgender bills in history. These bills, many of which target children and youth, have been introduced in 28 states as of this writing, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Most seek to either bar trans people from sports or restrict access to gender-affirming health care. This unprecedented onslaught of anti-transgender legislation is evidence that the fight for LGBTQ+ rights is far from over. 

In March 2021, Mississippi governor Tate Reeves signed a law banning transgender girls and women from participating in women’s sports in the state’s public schools and colleges. A similar anti-trans sports bill was approved in Tennessee, relegating students to play on sports teams corresponding to their assigned sex at birth as indicated on their original birth certificate. That same month, Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson codified the ironically-named “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” which revokes the right of trans girls and women to participate in sports consistently with their gender identity. 

Advocates for LGBTQ+ rights are concerned that these bills disregard the fact that one’s gender identity does not always match the sex they are assigned at birth. In addition, the sex on one’s birth certificate may be completely incongruous with their current state of mind and body. LGBTQ+ advocates also point out that such blatantly discriminatory legislation assumes that trans women are not “real” women, invalidating their identity. Moreover, most of these laws take effect beginning in elementary school, a particularly tender time in the lives of children learning to accept themselves. Discriminatory treatment so early in life could have profound negative effects on trans children’s self-esteem and mental health. 

These bills are only the tip of the iceberg, as almost 50 such restrictions on transgender female athletes’ participation in sports have been introduced this year alone. Sports bans specifically targeting trans youth have drawn heavy criticism from college athletes, hundreds of whom are now demanding that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) pull championships from states who vote to implement anti-trans legislation. The NCAA itself has since expressed that they can only hold championships in “locations where hosts can commit to providing an environment that is safe, healthy and free of discrimination,” in a statement issued shortly before the Florida House of Representatives was set to discuss a bill forcing trans athletes to compete on the team of their assigned sex at birth. The NCAA also opposed Idaho’s short-lived anti-trans sports ban last year, which was quickly overturned by a federal district court. 

Besides barring trans people from equal participation in sports, new legislation seeks to restrict their access to gender-affirming health care. Against medical advice from the Endocrine Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics, several states are seeking to criminalize the use of puberty blockers for children under 16 and hormone replacement therapy for those over 16, even with parental consent. The Arkansas Senate has already voted to approve one such bill, which would remove access to gender-affirming treatment to trans people under the age of 18. The representative who proposed the bill, Robin Lundstrum, stated that trans people “may choose to be transgender when they’re older.” However, according to the American Psychological Association and leading neurobiologists and physiologists, being trans is not a choice. The instigators of anti-trans legislation seemingly lack basic knowledge of the science of gender identity. This ignorance is not an issue to be taken lightly.  

Access to gender-affirming care is not only a major human rights issue, but one of life and death. For trans youth living with gender dysphoria, the severe distress produced when one’s assigned sex does not match their innate gender identity, puberty blockers and hormone therapy can significantly reduce their mental discomfort and risk of suicide. A 2020 study published in the esteemed journal Pediatrics found that those who had access to puberty blockers during adolescence had lower odds of considering suicide than those who did not, while attempts to force trans people to conform to their assigned sex at birth resulted in a higher risk of suicidal thoughts. According to Raquel Willis, a Black trans activist and author, “Affirming health care can literally be life or death for anyone, but particularly for trans youth. People think you can just discipline identity out of someone and that is not true and in many ways is torture.”

The recent surge of anti-transgender legislation has been a source of distress and fear for members of the trans community as well as their loved ones. Trans rights advocates lament that so many state governments are pursuing regressive policies, but posit that this conservative backlash could be a reaction to advances towards equality. Human Rights Campaign president Alphonso David stated, “In a year that has taken a toll on each and every one of us, it is shocking that anti-equality extremists in state legislatures across this country have dedicated an unprecedented amount of time and energy to attacking the LGBTQ community and particularly LGBTQ youth. The furious pace of these bills shows that hateful anti-equality groups across the country and extremist legislators alike realize that equality is gaining momentum.” David and others retain hope that the attempted repeal of trans rights and freedoms will be overcome by the changing tide: towards true equality, liberty, and justice for all.

Ciao, Cuomo: Sexually Predatory NYS Governor Should Be Deposed

“Be careful around the Governor.”

This is what a friend of Lindsey Boylan told her when she was promoted to Chief of Staff at the New York State Economic Development Agency. Sure enough, her experience working with Governor Andrew Cuomo was peppered with inappropriate touches, comments, and gestures directed at both her and other women in his administration. Boylan said that shortly after she began working with Cuomo, “My boss … informed me that the Governor had a “crush” on me.” She has stated that she feared being alone with Cuomo, and her worst trepidations were confirmed when he kissed her on the lips without consent in his NYC office on Third avenue. After that instance of sexual harassment, she felt terrified and nauseous coming in to work everyday. She eventually resigned in 2018. 

Six women have accused Cuomo of sexual harassment at the time of this writing.

Boylan was the first to come forward, which likely helped other women feel more comfortable sharing their experiences and publicly condemning the Governor for his sleazy behavior. 

Ana Liss, a former aide to the Governor, stated that Cuomo called her “sweetheart,” touched her lower back, and kissed her on the hand. Karen Hinton, another former aide, revealed that he held her in a “very long, too long, too tight, too intimate” embrace in a sketchy hotel room. Hinton is adamant that, “It was inappropriate. We both were married. I worked for him and it was too much to make it so personal and intimate.” Although survivors of sexual harassment and assault should not need corroboration to be believed, Hinton even has two witnesses in whom she confided shortly after the incident. She also mentioned that Cuomo made hiring decisions based on how women looked—he told her he had declined to employ a woman because she “wasn’t attractive enough for the job.” 

In a futile attack on her credibility, a spokesman for Cuomo stated of Hinton’s allegations, “This did not happen. Karen Hinton is a known antagonist of the Governor’s who is attempting to take advantage of this moment to score cheap points with made-up allegations from 21 years ago.” This is a textbook example of gaslighting—a form of abuse in which people are made to question their sanity or recollections by the abuser. Contrary to this dismissive and invalidating statement, Hinton has little incentive to lie: her husband is lobbyist Howard Glaser, a longtime ally of Cuomo who has worked closely with him as his director of state operations and senior policy advisor. Her testimony, combined with those of the five other known women who report similar experiences, is enough to place the Governor under serious scrutiny. 

Cuomo’s inappropriate transgressions were not isolated incidents, but part of a larger pattern of behavior. According to Boylan, “Governor Andrew Cuomo has created a culture within his administration where sexual harassment and bullying is so pervasive that it is not only condoned but expected.” This pattern is appallingly common among wealthy and influential men in America—Harvey Weinstein, R. Kelly, and Bill Cosby being prominent examples. Even politicians like President Joe Biden, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Donald Trump, and Rep. Patrick Meehan have been suppressing sexual harassment and assault allegations for years. Boylan said that Cuomo’s treatment of her resulted in “an uncomfortable but all-too-familiar feeling: the struggle to be taken seriously by a powerful man who tied my worth to my body and my appearance.” Sometimes, powerful men own up to their crimes and resign. More often, they ride out the criticism, laying low until people latch onto the next scandal in a month or two and forget all about them. This appears to be the route Governor Cuomo is taking. An independent investigation by NYS Attorney General Letitia James is under way. If the allegations are verified, Cuomo must resign—for the well-being of the women he violated and of the people of New York State. 

Workplace sexual harassment and bullying, while normalized even at the highest levels of government, are extremely detrimental. They result in toxic work environments and make jobs untenable for women due to stress and discomfort. Many, like Boylan, quit their jobs, only to see their abusers continue to receive publicity and praise without a shred of recompense or accountability. The pain of the initial harassment compounds even after they escape the situation. Furthermore, Liss believes that the New York State government is currently not a safe place for young women to work, because of the constant objectification and degradation they face. Besides the obvious threat to mental health that comes with inappropriate and dehumanizing treatment, these patterns of abuse are shutting women out of politics. And without accountability for the abusers, the responsibility falls on women to keep themselves safe. It’s always “Be careful around the Governor,” and never “Let’s get rid of the Governor.” Systemic issues require systemic solutions, and sexism will obviously not be solved with the resignation of one offender. But it would be harmful to allow Cuomo to continue governing an entire state and making over 200,000 dollars a year doing so, when it is so clear that he lacks basic respect for women.   

Three years ago, Cuomo called for NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to resign over assault allegations. However, he has been extremely self-defensive up to this point, denying any wrongdoing. “I’m not going to resign because of allegations,” he stated. He and his staff are attempting to excuse his actions by discrediting his accusers and suggesting that his nonconsensual kisses, uncomfortable embraces, and lewd comments are normal behavior.  

Cuomo said of alleged verbal harassment, “That’s my way of doing friendly banter,” and a senior advisor characterized him as someone who hugs and kisses people all the time, and insisted that his behavior was typical of politicians. It is. And that’s a problem, not an excuse. 

If Cuomo is allowed to retain his job despite the harm he has done, the public will see a continuation of this awful trend: wealthy, powerful men committing dastardly crimes with impunity. It signals to future generations that you can successfully evade the consequences of sexual harassment. It reflects negatively on the whole of New York State that our governor does not respect women’s bodily autonomy or treat them as equal human beings.  He must be held accountable for the hurt he’s caused, and if he has any scrap of human decency or remorse, he will not only profusely apologize, but step down as Governor. In the words of State Senate majority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins: “We have allegations about sexual harassment, a toxic work environment, the loss of credibility surrounding the COVID-19 nursing home data and questions about the construction of a major infrastructure project… For the good of the state, Governor Cuomo must resign.”

Thinking Past Reform: The Case For Prison Abolition

On January 26, 2021, Joe Biden signed an executive order to phase out private prisons by refusing to renew federal contracts with them. This decision is logical, considering that privately owned prisons are rife with abuses. Driven primarily by profit motives, private prisons are uninterested in actually rehabilitating the people locked within their walls. According to a 2016 report from the U.S. Justice Department Inspector General’s office, private prisons had twice as many inmate-on-inmate assaults as public prisons and nearly 40 percent more attacks on guards. Staff frequently have violent altercations with incarcerated people. Facilities are often understaffed and in disrepair. Resources are limited. As prison populations continue to grow due to the crackdown on nonviolent drug-related offenses, overcrowding is a significant issue that leads to squalid conditions and the spread of infectious diseases. Mental health crises abound, partially as a result of social isolation, and are treated with militant force, not compassion. Under the oversight of profit-hungry companies, private prisons serve neither incarcerated individuals nor their employees who are underpaid and overworked. 

Furthermore, incarcerated people can legally be coerced into labor under the Thirteenth Amendment, which outlawed involuntary servitude “except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.” This manifests in businesses such as McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Victoria’s Secret outsourcing manufacturing tasks to prisons, where imprisoned people are compensated for their labor with pathetic “wages,” making only pennies on the hour. In America, a country which prides itself on being “the land of the free,” slavery is still legal as long as the laboring people have been convicted of a crime. 

Then, consider that two to ten percent of the two million people currently in prison have been wrongfully convicted, according to the Chicago Tribune. And according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, another 50 percent are imprisoned for nonviolent crimes, immigration or drug offenses. It is chilling to imagine how many innocent people are currently being exploited, their bodies contracted out to companies ever-hungry for cheap labor. The legality of prison slavery is a boon to corporations, who can even morally justify this exploitation by labeling all incarcerated people as miscreants and monsters. The collaboration between prison, private industry, and public perception creates horrific abuses and facilitates modern slavery. It is abundantly clear that ending private prisons is in America’s best interest.    

Unfortunately, Biden’s executive order does not apply to state and local prisons, nor does it apply to the for-profit facilities in which thousands of immigrants are currently detained. This hardly makes sense, considering that non-federal prisons are fraught with the same problems as federal ones. Just a few weeks ago, a man named Preston Chaney died of COVID-19 in a Houston jail while awaiting trial for stealing food. As U.S. representative Ayanna Pressley pointed out, his ultimate “crime” was simply being poor. This maddening tragedy prompted Pressley to write, “Mass incarceration is a public health crisis,” and I concur. Immigrant detention centers suffer from the same issues as private prisons: negligence, poor conditions, and insufficient resources. Biden isn’t even banning private prisons; just revoking federal support for them. But even if he moved more decisively to end private prisons, it wouldn’t be enough to end the corruption and injustice that incarceration creates.

Our current response to crime is locking people away, placing them under constant surveillance, controlling every aspect of their lives, and socially isolating them. This approach is, unsurprisingly, damaging to mental health. It breaks apart families, weakens social connections, fosters resentment, and makes it incredibly difficult for people to re-enter society. Ex-convicts also face discrimination in the hiring process, meaning they often end up in poverty and in situations where they are more likely to resort to crime for survival. Contrary to popular belief, increased incarceration does not deter crime, nor does it keep society safer. The harmful mental effects of imprisonment make recidivism more likely, as does the stigma placed on anyone who has committed a crime or is thought to have done so. 

Recent studies uphold the paradoxical finding that increased incarceration is useless at best and detrimental at worst in curbing crime rates. According to a study from the Vera Institute of Justice, increased incarceration rates do not affect violent crime rates and may even increase them. While harsher sentences and higher incarceration rates have a mild deterrent effect on property crimes, that effect diminishes every year. The United States currently spends a staggering 182 billion dollars a year on mass incarceration, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. Are minimal to nonexistent improvements in public safety really worth this exorbitant cost? 

Making people suffer for their crimes is a disservice to everyone. Centuries of punitive justice have not significantly improved public safety, and come at an outrageous cost to American taxpayers. It is time we abandon the antiquated institution of incarceration and reinvest in preventative methods, like ending poverty and alleviating the desolate conditions which drive people to crime in the first place. Physical and mental health care must be made free and universal, as well as addiction rehabilitation services. Only through rehabilitative justice and compassion can we truly create a safer society for everyone.  

Mass incarceration is irreconcilable with American ideals of liberty and justice. Then again, America rests on land stolen from indigenous people, and to many, the American empire has no credibility or legitimacy at all. However, by practically every metric, America’s current system of incarceration is cruel and unjust. Non-incarcerated people must use their freedom to promote that of other human beings. America cannot be called a free country while the horrific institution of imprisonment exists.