I began to fear that I was forever going to be living in a hot desert cage, living as and being treated as a male, disappearing from the world into a secret prison, and never facing a public trial.

I came out publicly as transgender and began hormone replacement therapy while in prison. When I was released, however, there was no quantifiable history of me existing as a transwoman. Credit and background checks automatically assumed I was committing fraud.

Living such an opaque life has forced me never to take transparency, openness, and honesty for granted.

After years of hiding and holding off because of the trial, I finally announced my intent to change my name and transition to living as woman on 22 August 2013 - the day following my sentencing - a personal high point for me, despite my other circumstances.

The unique problem for transgender women in prison is that our health and welfare are also the responsibility of those charged with overseeing us.

Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage.