Two weeks ago I said I was preparing to be arrested due to the NSW government trying to erode our right to peaceful protest.

Two days ago I was arrested for what I believe in, and I’ve never felt more proud of it. I wanted to take the time to talk about this because being transgender in custody really fucking sucks, and I think it’s important for people to know about.

My gender identity was one of the first things I told police, I stressed it as an important point with every cop I dealt with. I was misgendered constantly in custody, they told the media I was male, the fingerprint machine says I’m “either male or female” (yes either, rather than neither wtf), my custody management docs say male and my court attendance notice says female, I’m non-binary.

My dead name was used on every single document, I was referred to by my dead name by most of the police who processed me but some of the arresting cops used my legal name.

Physically I was treated well enough to come out alive and unharmed, though I was worried about hypothermia. In the end I wasn’t warmed up until I was released after 5 hours and my support team wrapped my in a proper blanket and gave me hot tea. In preparation I spoke with other trans people who has been arrested, and the level of basic decency I was shown is not a common experience. People have been assaulted and shouted at, and plenty of other awful things. I was very privileged to make it through relatively unscathed.

Over the last week I made hundreds of friends, I only got the chance to say goodbye to a few of them but I’m so glad to have met them. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster and honestly I’m still riding it out. I’m on the final leg of my journey home today and I’m excited to see my bed again.