read three poems from Sarah jane baker’s essential poetry collection and an update from the free sarah jane baker campaign.
At Oestrogeneration, we firmly believe in the abolition of the carceral state as a crucial step towards trans liberation. The oppressive function of prisons and their imperialist approach to gender are roots of the colonial structures that continue to enable transphobia within the UK. Building solidarity between trans people both in and outside of the criminal justice system is vital. One group working directly with incarcerated queer and trans people is Beyond Bars.
Beyond Bars is a collective of volunteers who send books and other educational materials, free of charge, to incarcerated LGBTQIA+ people across the United Kingdom. With the publication of our first print issue, we were fortunate to receive funding to work with Beyond Bars, sending copies of our magazine to incarcerated members of our community through their collective.
Alongside this work, we wanted to highlight the Free Sarah Jane Baker campaign, an integral campaign in the fight against transphobia within the UK that deserves your attention and support.
Sarah Jane Baker is a political prisoner and trans rights activist who was wrongfully imprisoned following remarks made during a speech at 2023’s London Trans Pride, in which she said “If you see a TERF punch them in the f*cking face”. This comment was about trans women’s right to defend ourselves against transphobia, not an active attempt at inciting violence. To quote the campaign, “We do not advocate for violence in any form, however this was a comment said in the spur of the moment to be controversial and raise a response from her audience. At no point did she believe anyone would actually do it. This is an issue of free speech and raises serious questions of the government’s role in the judicial system.”
Initially the Metropolitan Police stated there should be no further action and concluded that there was no need for Sarah to be recalled to prison, but after being targeted by the right wing press and following intervention from former home secretary Suella Braverman, the case was reopened. Sarah was arrested on the 12th of July 2023 under incitement to violence laws and recalled to prison. Despite being found not guilty of charges held against her in August 2023, she remains in HMP Isle of Wight, a men’s prison, where she has been denied access to hormone replacement therapy.
Alongside her activist work, Sarah Jane Baker is a writer and author. In solidarity with the Free Sarah Jane Baker campaign AKA Books published Borstal to Bedlam: Poetry & Prose From The Gutter to the Grave, a collection of Sarah’s poetry where all proceeds of the book go towards the campaign.
The collection is a witty, stark and essential entry into the tradition of prison writing from one of the most significant figures fighting against, and victim of, the anti-trans sentiment in the UK. AKA Books platforming Sarah’s poetry and prose in this publication allows us to engage with the words of a trans woman who is actively being silenced by the state. It is crucial poetry that fights for trans liberation.
Oestrogeneration is incredibly honoured to share some of Sarah’s poetry from Borstal To Bedlam on our site. We stand with the Free Sarah Jane Baker campaign, calling for the release of Sarah Jane Baker and we encourage our readers to follow the campaign closely and show up in solidarity for Sarah at forthcoming protests. Read on for three selected poems from the book, followed by an update from the campaign manager.
Just another day
Through prison bars I view the world,
At least as far as the eye can see.
The seasons change, the flowers bloom,
To bring a small delight to me.
The convicts march as if to stem
The tides of pity pouring in,
And thus resolved to conquer fear,
They lock up heartbreak far within.
The guards they rattle keys and chains,
Standing steadfast, look upon,
The men on whom their wages rest,
With scant concern for right or wrong.
The Governor struts, his body gaunt,
Across the yard like peacock proud,
Demeaning mankind with a scowl,
His screaming voice, it echoes loud.
The high forbidding stone wall looms,
A sight to test the withered heart,
Reminding men of futures damned
And broken spirits ripped apart.
The birds are flying to and fro,
Shrieking out as if to tease
The men below with envy watch
The aerobatics on the breeze.
Grey shadows start to then appear
And shining sun begins to fall
The gates are slammed, the birds depart,
Another notch marked on my wall.
Mirror Image
Born not by choice
To a world not chosen by me
To partake in its misery
Inflicted by those who say that they care For me with humanity
But watch with glee
As they beat us to break us
Then torture and shape us
Into replicas of themselves.
Then they stand amazed but detached As we plunder and steal
With caution abandoned
On the road to live and survive
The injustice of birth not by choice.
Freedom
I can taste you on my lips, gently tempting me.
Bittersweet promises of a treasure that I will never hold.
Men lie for you, many die for you, women cry for you
Some sell their souls for you, such is the allure you hold.
an update from the free sarah jane baker campaign:
Sarah sends her love and solidarity to everyone who’s supporting her, or who is standing up for trans rights. She thinks you’re all amazing!
We had a demonstration outside Bridgepoint Group Plc last year, and some of Sarah’s supporters joined the noise protest outside Brixton Prison on New Year’s Eve, and distributed fliers there.
Bridgepoint Group Plc own the healthcare company who have stopped Sarah’s hormones. We are continuing to complain about her treatment, to the company and the general medical council, but these are long processes. In the meantime Sarah is continuing to suffer from the lack of oestrogen. She has refused to take the testosterone they have prescribed her, she is resisting their pressure to medically detransition.
We hope to organise more protests about the decision to deny her her hormones. In the meantime people can support Sarah by signing the campaign’s open letter, donating to her crowdfund, or writing messages of support. Links can be found on the campaign website
If you’re able to help organise events, or would like us to participate in something you’re doing, or if you have other ideas, please get in touch with the campaign. The aim is not just to highlight the injustice of Sarah’s case but to promote trans rights, prisoner’s rights & the right to protest.
written with crucial input from AKA books, the free sarah jane baker campaign and mercy moktar.
purchase borstal to bedlam: poetry & prose from the gutter to the grave here