Dee Farmer will discuss Farmer v. Brennan, her case that was appealed to and was won in front of the United States Supreme Court. Farmer, a black transgender woman who underwent hormone therapy and received breast implants, then underwent an unsuccessful sex reassignment therapy. She was later convicted of credit card fraud and sent to U.S. Penitentiary Terra Haute and placed in the general male population, which was in accordance with the prison policy. While there, she was beaten and raped by her cellmate. She then sued at the federal district court level, alleging the prison failed to protect one of their prisoners, a protection that’s guaranteed under the Eighth Amendment.

Farmer’s case ultimately reached the Supreme Court in 1994. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Farmer’s favor, that she could seek damages from officials responsible for placing her in danger and that prisoners have a right to be protected from sexual violence. Farmer’s case has been cited by thousands of courts relating to prisoners’ rights and transgender prisoner’s rights. Farmer is a legal expert and consultant and a legend in the transgender rights movement. She was the first transgender plaintiff to bring a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. Farmer lectures at law schools, legal conferences and community events about transgender rights and is legal consultant for the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders.

This program has been approved for 1.0 continuing education credit in Nebraska. To register, visit go.unl.edu/review2023. Additional information can be found on the Law Review website listed below.