Prison Radio
Keontae Stuart

My first name is Keontae, my last name is Stewart. My inmate number is A740345, and I am located at Toledo, Ohio Correctional Institution on 2001 East Central Avenue in Toledo, Ohio 43607. I am in contact with Prison Radio today.

First of all, I would like to say happy new years to every one who’s listening out there, and if there’s any listening ears for anybody who cares to reach out or help in any type of way.

I am someone who is transgender. I have experienced a lot of negativity within my incarceration. I am to pursue action for a list of things. [Failure?] for HRT. Use of force claims and things of that nature, things that I’ve experienced because of my (deep breath) sexuality.

In a male predominant prison, I experienced a lot of different things. I would just like to put out there that I’ve experience a tremendous amount of mental distress from my solitary confinement and the things that I’ve went through. I’ve actually experienced suicide attempts. I’ve tried castration a number of times. And things of that nature, being that I’m transgender and things that I’ve experienced. It has led me to those points. At this time, I’m on hunger strike.

It’s very much so when you’re starving yourself to get heard or get the things that you need and deserve. If it’s any political people out there, any normal people, not just the LGBTQ+ community, but any attorneys, legal aids. Anybody that has information that can just reach out. I need as much help and support as I can get. This is a serious situation.

Even if you’re somebody that I can talk to, I would really appreciate that as a way of just a listening ear or whatever the case may be. If there’s also any programming institutions out there or anything that has dealt with or know what I’m going through, please reach out. I’m here. Thank you so much Prison Radio for giving me the opportunity to speak and be heard by the people out there in the community.

I really appreciate this and I love them. Thank you guys so much for this wonderful duty you guys are doing for us prisoners in here that actually, you know, went through the struggle behind these walls. I mean, a lot of people don’t know and can’t relate to ’em because they don’t know what’s happening.

And you guys really, really give us the opportunity to let people on the outside know what we’re going through. And I appreciate you guys for that. And love you so much.

(Sound of a cell door closing.) These commentaries are recorded by Noelle Hanrahan of Prison Radio.