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Stories of Injustice, Ashley Diamond http://jesusisrelevant.home.blog/2021/04/23/stories-of-injustice-ashley-diamond/
I first met Ashley in 1999 at Kmart in Rome, Georgia. I was shopping with a friend who spotted Ashley from across the store. "That's Ashley Diamond!" my friend exclaimed. I remember it like it was yesterday. I knew of Ashley Diamond ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Diamond).
Everyone knew of Ashley Diamond in Rome, Georgia. I was excited to meet her in person, finally.
Ashley was a few years ahead of me in school. She attended my middle school for a brief period. I didn't know her then because I mostly kept to myself. Year later I look at my middle school yearbook and see Ashley as a young person.
She still has the same smile she had in middle school-- I've always thought that was remarkable. Ashley was known for impersonating Jem from Jem and the Holograms ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jem_(TV_series)).
Ashley Diamond was unlike anything my small, mostly white and Christian school community had ever seen. She gained instant celebrity-- but not the good kind.
Back to 1999. After spotting Ashley, my friend and I introduced ourselves. Ashley, as friendly and hospitable as ever, invited us to her house. We accepted the invitation without a second thought. Who on Earth would pass up the opportunity to get to know the real Ashley Diamond.
At this point, though we attended the same middle school, I had only heard rumors and stories about her.
Ashley and I became quick friends and started hanging out regularly. I enjoyed being around her. We had fun and she was a much needed break from my conservative Christian environment. In her microcosm Ashley was the star.
She could dress up, lip synch to Whitney, and be who she wanted to be inside her home. She had an audience every night. Queers, outsiders, "alternative" people, goth folks and anyone who was on the periphery of Rome, Georgia's social scene flocked to hang out at Ashley's house.
Folks of all ages were attracted to Ashley's light. We knew we could be ourselves with her. It was safe. Ashley and I went to gay bars in Chattanooga and Atlanta where she made a little cash as a drag queen. Of course, I was under 21 so I got to sit in the car.
Years passed and I fell out of touch with Ashley. I eventually moved away from our hometown, Rome, Georgia and stopped communicating with her all together. In 2015 after I moved back to Georgia from the University of Utah, I discovered that Ashley was incarcerated.
Even worse, I discovered that she was incarcerated with men. I found stories of her struggle and how she daily faced the danger of guard abuse and rape while in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections.
I also watched Ashley, with the help of the Southern Poverty Law Center file suit against GDC and prevail. JUSTICE! Or so we thought.
Ashley was released and she returned to Rome, Georgia. I met Ashley shortly after her release. We had lunch on Broad Street. We laughed and caught up. But there was a change in Ashley. Foremost, Ashley wasn't the effervescent star I remembered from 1999.
She was depressed and I could see that her incarceration left scars. Some of her scars were visible. While in prison, Ashley suffered a dental injury as a result of being violently attacked by a fellow inmate.
Although she prevailed in her lawsuit, I did not believe she was made whole. I didn't believe it then and I don't believe it now. I don't know how anyone can be made whole after being subjected to daily tortured by law enforcement officers and fellow inmates.
As soon as she stepped back onto the scene in Rome, Georgia the buzz began. Rome News Tribune published a story about her case and release. The public lit social media up with the usual homophobic, racist BS.
It was like they were unable to consider how dangerous it was for Ashley Diamond to be housed in a male facility. It was an abandonment of care for their wards by the Georgia Department of Corrections.
Justice was GDC being held responsible for the harm they inflicted on a trans person. "Drag Queen" the local newspaper named her. Sheer ignorance and lack of ability to understand complex human sexuality was on full display when Ashley got home.
To make matters worse, Rome City Police Department targeted her too. If I recall correctly she was regularly pulled over and harassed for minor traffic offenses like having an out tail light. According to other sources, Ashley went out of state for mental health treatment.
Shortly thereafter she was brought up on parole violation for leaving the state.
Ashley is incarcerated at Coastal State Prison ( http://www.dcor.state.ga.us/GDC/FacilityMap/html/S_50000181.html)hours away from any family or friends.
Ashley is incarcerated at Coastal State Prison ( http://www.dcor.state.ga.us/GDC/FacilityMap/html/S_50000181.html)hours away from any family or friends.
Last week a friend of hers shared Ashley's mailing address and asked that we write letters of hope and encouragement. I did. Then, I googled the prison where she's held. This is what I saw:
Ashley is obviously not presenting herself as she identifies for whatever reason. Ashley is listed as male despite identifying as female. She's being tortured by the State of Georgia again.
Trans rights are a thing that sometimes strain people's ability to understand that we are all human and feel. When trans people are involved, entities like the Georgia Department of Corrections, don't do enough to provide protection and adequate care.
Ashley is back in the same boat: a prisoner held captive by abusers.
If you're reading this and Ashley's story doesn't resound with want for justice, I admonish you. It is my understanding that the highest ideal of human relationships is founded on respecting and cherishing other people's dignity. In order for us to do that, we have to listen.
When a black trans woman who was raised with a small town beating her down while poor tells you she's being treated inhumanely we need to listen. Repenting, Red-letter Christians MUST listen.
Please pray for Ashley. Contact Coastal State Prison and call them out on their sin and human right violations.
Peace be with you, my friend.
Peace be with you, my friend.
This thread can be read here: http://jesusisrelevant.home.blog/2021/04/23/stories-of-injustice-ashley-diamond/
