Have people heard of Andrew Balcer here?

[dinodart]

Just been listening to the LGB Courage Coalition's most recent podcast ( and what the lawyer claims is happening to the women housed with Andrew Balcer (who got 40 years to life for murder and claimed to be trans after going to prison) is absolutely horrifying. Many of them are traumatized by him, but it's worse than that, all the people that should be helping these women ignore them and treat the women as the problem.

The darkness of this ideology knows no bounds...

I found this article about him (as I don't listen to podcasts much). It is chilling. It's not "punishment" for him, giving him free opportunity to abuse and terrifying women. Nor is it rehabilitation. Just why would anyone think putting him in women's prison is a good idea? I thought Trump said he'd put an end to that, or does he only care about women's sports not women's prisons?

wgme.com/news/local/three-more-women-join-lawsuit-against-maine-department-of-corrections-transgender-inmate-maine-corrections-center-andrea-balcer

Another article:

*In that lawsuit filed on Thursday, Mountain alleged that Balcer has subjected her to graphic sexual stories, trapped her in the bathroom, forcibly kissed her and made repeated threats of rape and impregnation.

The lawsuit also alleges that Balcer told Mountain, “Don’t worry, if you don’t wake up, it’s because I smothered you with a pillow.”*

What a monster. And the people who decided to put him there - i hope they read that and never sleep soundly again from remorse

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wabi.tv/2026/04/07/resident-womens-prison-files-lawsuit-over-transgender-inmate/%3foutputType=amp

American so no, had not heard. The more lawsuits the more chance it will change, I hope they all win.

I thought Trump said he'd put an end to that, or does he only care about women's sports not women's prisons?

It's difficult for Trump or any other president to control what happens in non-federal prisons.

Individual states have control over policies and practices in their correctional facilities. Democrat controlled states, of which Maine is one, usually house trans identified men in women's facilities.

Trump's administration has tried to counteract this through civil rights investigations and threats of funding cuts, but that's not always successful.

Not helped by the actions of some judges - this from the Grauniad "Judge orders Trump administration to return two trans prisoners to women’s facilities"

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/19/trump-trans-women-prisons

Thank you for explaining, this is really interesting, I didn't understand the distinction between federal and state prisons. I will read more about it

I thought Trump said he'd put an end to that, or does he only care about women's sports not women's prisons?

This also might help answer that question,

“Despite the Department of Justice’s claims, this is yet another politically motivated, predetermined investigation designed to target states that stand up to the Trump administration and its abuses,” a spokesperson for Gov. Janet Mills

Not being an american I don't know the facts but Mills in particularly singled out by Trump for not following fed laws, so it's likely personal to Mills to do everything that is the exact opposite of what Trump's administration wants.

I hope the lawsuit is a success, I'd like to see them also extend it to include Mills, she's the main energy behind all of it, she should be held accountable as well.

There is also a federal investigation into California's policy on TIMs in women's prisons.

That's really good... I guess I'm just still learning how much really fundamental stuff is in state governors' control as opposed to federal control.

Thank you for explaining...it's heartbreaking that these female prisoners are considered irrelevant collateral damage in the governor's political strategy. Like I said upthread, how can she sleep at night?