Transgender Influencer Nikita Dragun Held In A Men’s Prison Following Arrest

The debate over whether inmates should be housed in jails that correspond with their sex or gender identity is an ongoing one, but it’s pretty clear where Miami stands on the matter following the arrest of trans influencer Nikita Dagun this week.

Dragun, 26, was arrested at The Goodtime Hotel in Miami Beach on Monday and charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and felony battery of a law enforcement officer, according to USA Today. Police records show the transgender YouTuber was “causing a disturbance for a long period of time” and was walking around the hotel pool “unclothed”.

After she was asked to stop by police officers and hotel staff, Dragun threw a water bottle at a security guard and police officer.

Dragun was placed into police custody and transferred to a men’s unit of the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County. They even misgendered her in the police report!

She was released from custody without bail less than two days later, as the outrage around her treatment continued online:

Nikita Dragun is one of the most well known trans women in the world; if this can happen to her, it can happen to any of us.

Trans women are women and belong in women’s spaces.

This is absolutely horrific and should be considered cruel and unusual punishment. pic.twitter.com/jHJgwlRug4

— Samantha Lux (@_samanthalux) November 9, 2022

I’m not a fan of Nikita Dragun nor am I defending her actions in any shape or form but when she was put into jail and forced to stay in a men’s unit, that’s heartbreaking and dangerous. Trans Women are Women.

— little miss gaslight gatekeep girlboss (@aangeloplaza) November 9, 2022

You mean to tell me that this WOMAN is being held in a men’s unit in which she’s being stripped of basic human rights all because of THIS?

Nikita Dragun is facing a violation of her basic human rights. This is disgusting to witness.

SPREAD AWARENESS FOR THE LGBT community. 🏳️‍🌈 pic.twitter.com/wbcjm6VZY6

— daydo 🌈 (@daydojenner) November 11, 2022

Others were less sympathetic, however:

Nikita Dragun: bragging about dick size; openly admitting to still possessing male physical strength

Also Nikita Dragun: pwease, I am just a widdle gurl 🥺 pwease put me in jail with all the other gurlies 🥺🥺 uwu 👉🏻👈🏻 pic.twitter.com/k95zJEHINy

— Terfin’ Pikachu (@terfinpikachu) November 11, 2022

I think the reason behind that is, the last transgendered person they arrested and placed in the female unit, ended up getting a female prisoner pregnant. She was then moved to a male unit.

— Lawless Wonder (@lawless_wonder) November 9, 2022

Well it looks as though there’s reasonable points on both sides of the argument, and I guess what it comes down to is what the safest option is for everyone involved.

Jack Ketsoyan, a representative for Dragun, said in a statement to NPR:

“The situation with Nikita, who is legally female, being placed in a men’s unit of a Florida jail is extremely disturbing and dangerous.

This decision made by the Miami-Dade County corrections department directly violates their protocol, which mandates that transgender inmates are classified and housed based on safety needs and gender identity. Nikita has been released and is now safe.”