Jessica Phoenix Sylvia

Writer, speaker, community organizer, abolitionist. Trans woman currently incarcerated in Washington State, tweeting with a friend's help. She/her or they/them.

[Jessica Phoenix Sylvia @AbolitionJess]

Urgent call to action! During Pride month, demand that trans prisoners' legal names be honored. Tell WA DOC secretary Cheryl Strange to stop the dehumanization now! [email protected]. Thank you for the love and solidarity.

[Jessica Phoenix Sylvia @AbolitionJess]

My op-ed for @truthout, "Prison Officials Punished Me With Solitary — Against Their Own Rules" https://t.co/sXPqD5zeTf

[Jessica Phoenix Sylvia @AbolitionJess]

I've been so busy getting shuffled between different prisons, and still had time to publish two stories recently. 💪 Thread!

[Jessica Phoenix Sylvia @AbolitionJess]

The recent controversy surrounding Dave Chappelle’s act, which features shocking jokes about trans people, has many considering the line between comedy and social responsibility. My take, as a transwoman, for @Into_tweets https://t.co/cY5wJyr8mw

[Into @Into_tweets]

Proud to publish this fantastic piece by @AbolitionJess . Everyone loves to mourn trans folks when they die, but how hard do we fight for trans revolutionaries when they're still live? Not very hard!

https://t.co/SCF4FG2GLS

[Meredith Talusan @1demerith]

"Sometimes, I dream there is a queer and trans army at my side. Maybe someday, there will be." Important words from a trans woman who experiences immense struggles every day in a men's prison. https://t.co/kyKWBO9wm1

[cynthia fried a lady @FriedCynth]

"There is no good care in a cage."

important read from @AbolitionJess @ChrisWBlackwell @them
https://t.co/KBuWnkeQqF

[Them @them]

I’ve been incarcerated in a men’s prison since 2005. I’m exhausted, traumatized, and fighting for change. https://t.co/ycaLjT9Z6K

[Empowerment Avenue @EmpowermentAve]

Here are two recent pieces by EA writer @AbolitionJess. The first, for @Into_tweets, explores Jess's thoughts on Dave Chappelle and living under institutionalized social- and gender-based violence:
https://t.co/w2jRmwUhEh

[Empowerment Avenue @EmpowermentAve]

@AbolitionJess published a piece today for @truthout about recently being punished with solitary conferment inside a Washington prison, despite restrictive housing reform that's happened across the state:

https://t.co/0YOjVHTB0c

[Jessica Phoenix Sylvia @AbolitionJess]

@them @ChrisWBlackwell In this piece I talk a little bit about the injustice of continually being deadnamed in prison, but that practice has complex repercussions beyond the emotional toll and after release. For more on that, check out my essay for @damemagazine: https://t.co/n5GzTamrfc

[Jessica Phoenix Sylvia @AbolitionJess]

"I’ve been incarcerated in a men’s prison since 2005. I’m exhausted, traumatized, and fighting for change." It's so affirming to finally share my debut essay for @them, with coauthor/friend @ChrisWBlackwell. This one's been in the works for a while.
https://t.co/213kTShK3A

[Jessica Phoenix Sylvia @AbolitionJess]

I may be in isolation right now, but they can't stop me from writing: Incarcerated LGBTQ people are finding creative ways to claim public space and gather in solidarity. My latest for @truthout https://t.co/jBK6sdRWIM

[Jessica Phoenix Sylvia @AbolitionJess]

September was busy. I was put in isolation, yet still published a couple articles. "... here I am doing organizing work from a prison cell that includes radio and publishing." My second essay for @Into_tweets https://t.co/XgK1fNCefQ

[Jessica Phoenix Sylvia @AbolitionJess]

I'm in IMU, the hole. Investigation for inciting a riot! WTF? Could really use some mail right now.

Jessica Sylvia #834475
MCC - IMU - D126
PO Box 7002
Monroe, WA 98272

[Empowerment Avenue @EmpowermentAve]

For @TheCrimeReport, Ryan Moser details why an "incentivized" prison that "cultivates an environment of learning and rehabilitation" is a better option than a prison focused on punishment. That's been his own experience, which he details here:

https://t.co/SXpkFafyGc

[Jessica Phoenix Sylvia @AbolitionJess]

As Pride Month comes to a close, support this QTBIPoC abolition movement with everything you've got! When you're done with your parade, how 'bout some mutual aid? I hope folks are feeling my Pride essay @Into_tweets. https://t.co/6M0vCc5EC9

[Jessica Phoenix Sylvia @AbolitionJess]

As an incarcerated trans woman of color I invite you to support my work during Pride month. Read my story @Into_tweets and learn how it feels to celebrate Pride from behind bars. https://t.co/6M0vCc5EC9

[Jessica Phoenix Sylvia @AbolitionJess]

Anyone who is interested in the lives of trans prisoners should read my story in @Into_tweets this week. It's a powerful story of someone who is constantly under the threat of violence. https://t.co/6M0vCc5EC9

[Jessica Phoenix Sylvia @AbolitionJess]

My latest byline dropped today: "There are no parades here and there are no rainbow flags ... What I do have is self-determination and my voice [and] the hope of ending the deadnaming of trans prisoners in Washington State." https://t.co/6M0vCcng0J

[Jessica Phoenix Sylvia @AbolitionJess]

You can learn more about my Gender Identity Justice campaign below. https://t.co/wdKXcvShac

[Jessica Phoenix Sylvia @AbolitionJess]

Urgent call to action! During Pride month, demand that trans prisoners' legal names be honored. Tell WA DOC secretary Cheryl Strange to stop the dehumanization now! [email protected]. Thank you for the love and solidarity.

[Jessica Phoenix Sylvia @AbolitionJess]

Last month, I wrote about what it feels like to be legally named Jessica Phoenix Sylvia, yet deadnamed every time someone has to search for me in a database or write to me. Jessica doesn't fully exist as long as I am incarcerated. https://t.co/n5GzTaE2DM