article_snippet.sent: John and Stipe have joined forces calling for the equal rights of transgender inmates in response to allegations of mistreatment at a Georgia prison.
article_snippet.sent: Allies: John and lead singer of REM Michael Stipe have joined forces calling for the equal rights of transgender inmates .
article_snippet.sent: ‘More often than not, assaults in part go unreported because the perpetrators are prison guards, wardens and staff,’ said Stipe and John, who founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
article_snippet.sent: This is outrageous, and the message This sends is horrific: that violence against and discrimination of trans people is not only allowed, but sanctioned.
article_snippet.sent: Both John, 68, and Stipe, 55, are openly gay.
article_snippet.sent: In their statement, John and Stipe applauded the Justice Department for coming out in support of Ashley Diamond and for challenging the constitutionality of Georgia’s policy of denying transgender inmates hormone treatments.
article_snippet.sent: But John and Stipe argued that more steps must be taken to end the ‘culture of violence and discrimination.
article_snippet.sent: That action signals this administration's commitment to protecting the interests of transgender people in this context and sends a message to state officials that the federal government has taken a clear position on the substantive legal issues in the case, said Georgia State University law professor Russell Covey. '
highlights_snippet.sent: John and Stipe issued a joint statement calling for equal rights of transgender inmates .
  