Trans Woman Sues Washington Prisons Over Transfer to Men’s Facility

Amber Kim argues her forced transfer violates constitutional protections against cruel punishment and endangers her safety.

Amber Kim, a transgender woman serving a life sentence, was transferred from a women’s to a men’s prison in Washington after receiving a disciplinary infraction for consensual sexual activity with another inmate.
Kim has filed a lawsuit, supported by the ACLU, claiming the transfer was arbitrary, in bad faith, and lacked legitimate penological justification, violating protections against cruel punishment under the state constitution.
Kim has chosen to remain in solitary confinement at the men’s prison, citing fears of physical and sexual violence in the general population, which she says have been exacerbated by her ongoing gender transition.
Advocates and legal experts highlight broader concerns about the treatment of transgender prisoners in Washington, noting a perceived backslide in the Department of Corrections' commitment to gender-affirming housing and care policies.
The lawsuit also underscores systemic disparities, as Kim was the only person transferred for a similar infraction, while her cisgender cellmate remained in the women’s prison and returned to less restrictive custody.