Inmate who identifies as a trans Muslim woman sues NYC for $22 MILLION after being placed in a men's detention center while waiting for domestic abuse trial

A transgender woman is suing the City of New York after they were placed in a  men's detention center while awaiting transfer to another state on domestic violence charges. 

Ali Miles, who also goes by Dylan Miles, was born a biological male but is in 'the process of transitioning into a woman', wears women's clothing and is undergoing hormone therapy. 

Miles, a self-identified Muslim woman, is now seeking more than $22,000,000 in compensation, claiming she was discriminated based on gender identity.

Miles was held at the George R. Vierno Center on Rikers Island from June to July 2022 before being transferred to Yavapai County Jail in Arizona. 

Subsequently, she was convicted of aggravated harassment, disorderly conduct, harassment, threatening or intimidating, and false reporting to a law enforcement agency.

In October of 2022, she was placed on supervised probation for a period of three years and sentenced to 312 days in jail.

The lawsuit, filed on August 24, 2023, states that despite expressing a female gender identity and allegedly having a court order for her to be placed in a female unit, Miles was housed in a male facility at Rikers. 

The filing contends that Miles faced discrimination, assault, and human rights violations during this time despite 'wearing women's clothing and in all appearance expresses as a person of the female gender.'

Following her arrest, Miles informed a judge about being transgender and the need for special housing, with the court purportedly agreeing.

However, Miles alleges that after being placed in a male jail, she suffered 'shock and distress.' 

'As Miles approached the inside of the building, Miles realized it was a male jail which caused shock, panic and fright to Miles,' the suit reads. 

'Miles requested and pleaded … that as an LGBTQIA+ individual who was transgendered, she required and needed an accommodation, and that she should not be placed in a male population jail.'

Despite pleas for her accommodation to be switched, Miles claims a staff member said, 'we don't do the trans thing here' and underwent a degrading strip search. 

She was then strip-searched by a male guard who said she had 'nice t***' and 'one hell of a p****', despite Miles not having undergone gender reassignment surgery. 

During detention at the George R. Vierno Center, Miles alleges she was subject to routine harassment, misgendering, and humiliation, highlighting 'sexual victimization' by other inmates due to placement in a male facility.

Miles is demanding $22,000,000 in compensation for the alleged discriminatory practices against her and lists the City of New York together with the Department of Corrections Rikers Island, the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation. 

Miles appears to have a habit of filing lawsuits when it comes to gender discrimination and has so far attempted to sue a yoga studio, a tourism company, Planet Fitness, Bagel Point, and New York Presbyterian Hospital, all alleging discrimination based on gender identity.

All of the cases in the past were dismissed, but the current lawsuit against the City of New York is proceeding. 

Miles, who previously self-represented in court now has legal representation, and the next hearing is scheduled for February 22, 

In last year's suit against a city yoga studio, Miles sued for $5 million after claiming she was forced to use a men's locker room. 

Miles claimed to have been banned from using the women's changing rooms and bathrooms on May 4, 2023 by management at Hot Yoga Chelsea - where classes can cost as much as $1,900 per year. 

But Miles went in anyway and leading to complaints from the other women in there, according to the suit. 

Miles, originally from Arizona, turned up to the Manhattan studio before the 5pm class and wanted to get changed in the women's locker room. 

But her presence was met with complaints and she was told to stop using the facilities and leave.

'Female patrons … complained and yelled at Miles about Miles' presence and use of the single-sex locker room and bathroom labeled women, and they demanded Miles leave and cease using the facilities,' the lawsuit states. 

A witness described Miles' behavior on that day as disturbing and said she was '150% a man' and that her genitals were hanging out in the locker room. 

'We have other transgender people [at Chelsea Hot Yoga], we have several trans women and several trans men, and there's never been a problem. … it's this individual,' she told the New York Post.

'This person who claims to be a transitioning woman came into the female locker room, number one, in male shorts that were down to his knees. 

Although there could be some hormonal addition because his bust is bigger than mine, he did not wear any feminine top to cover his bust.

'He also de-robed, and he is a full male. There's 150% man. There were things hanging out.' 

The witness added: 'It wasn't even like he was just standing there. He was crouched down on the floor in front of the shower stalls. 

'It was very uncomfortable for one of the women that was in there and she was completely naked.

'This person started in immediately with reciting the law, and why would you do that? 

'Because this person could see that there were other women, amongst myself, that were notably upset …This person, I don't know if they come to these places to try to start a problem or whatever.'

Miles was also represented by lawyer Peter Sverd in her case against a Planet Fitness, where she was allegedly escorted out of the women's locker room, and a homeless shelter where she claimed she was assaulted by a security guard.

Both incidents are said to have happened in the Bronx.

Other suits Miles filed include $75,000 in compensation against Sedona Soul Adventures, a business based in Arizona that he had previously worked for.

Miles alleged the tourism company wrongfully terminated his employment after subjecting him to 'gender identity-based harassment and discrimination.' 

The suit was dismissed after an out-of-court agreement was reached.

Two other civil suits were filed against Planet Fitness and Bagel Point, a cafe in Brooklyn on the basis of 'gender identity-based harassment and discrimination.' 

Miles demanded $10,000,000 in compensation from Planet Fitness, but the suit was dismissed.

In the suit against Bagel Point, Miles sought $75,000 in damages alleging he had been wrongfully terminated and subjected to verbal abuse on the basis of his gender identity.

The actions against Bagel Point and Planet Fitness were both dismissed after he failed to file the correct paperwork and pay $402 in filing fees.

In New York City, places of 'public accommodation' are required to allow visitors to use the bathroom which aligns with their gender identity under a 2016 law - or they have to provide single-occupancy toilets for 'all genders'.  

Businesses in New York are said to be doing their best to avoid any issues that arise over bathroom use. 

Real estate property manager Anthony Mignano, who is not involved with the lawsuit, said: 'We've been informed by our lawyers to change everything … everything has to be a neutral bathroom now to avoid it.' 

While another expert claims transgender bathroom and locker room claims could hurt businesses in the city with litigation in a similar way the Americans with Disabilities Act has.

It led to hundreds of lawsuits, including some from claimants dubbed 'professional plaintiffs' who file dozens of claims.