Dan McKibben, 51, spent two months at the West Valley Detention Center in 2014, where he experienced discrimination and intimidation. Whereas non-GBT inmates live in dorms or are otherwise out of their cells most non-sleeping hours, Mr. McKibben spent an average of 22 and 1/2 hours in his cell. During that time he repeatedly asked a custody specialist to participate in the work program. Each time he was told he was not allowed because of where he was housed. Mr. McKibben witnessed other individuals at the jail beaten down while being called faggots by deputies on six occasions. A former deputy with the Marion County Sheriff's Department in Indiana, he moved to California in 1988 to help care for his grandmother.
Peter Guzman, 34, is a native of San Bernardino. On January 21, 2014, he was sent to the West Valley Detention Center while awaiting trial on charges related to writing fraudulent checks, he was placed in the "alternative lifestyle" housing unit after he identified as gay. There, he was subjected to discriminatory treatment, including being denied access to group religious services and spending an average of 22 and 1/2 hours in his cell where non-GBT inmates live in dorms or are otherwise out most non-sleeping hours. Mr. Guzman repeatedly asked to participate in the work program but was told none of the individuals in his housing unit were permitted to work. After his family threatened to take legal action against the WVDC, he was finally permitted to work in the law library but was subjected to retaliation by deputies and further unequal treatment, being denied access to the same privileges as other workers. He also should have been released two months earlier than he ultimately was because he was denied work credits.
Nick Ou, 27, grew up in the San Gabriel Valley. In 2014, he spent four months at the West Valley Detention Center, in connection to his arrest for possession of a stolen vehicle. Mr. Ou, who is gay and HIV positive, was confined to his cell in the “alternative lifestyle” housing unit for 22 to 23 hours a day. When he asked to participate in the work program he was told by the jail staff that he was ineligible due to his “medical condition,” which the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department claimed prevented him from climbing stairs. The Sheriff’s Department, however, opted to house Mr. Ou on the upper tier of the jail, where he was required to climb stairs daily. Mr. Ou then sought and obtained medical clearance from his doctor and again requested to participate in the work program. Again, his request was denied without explanation. He was similarly denied access to educational programming, group religious services and rehabilitation. Mr. Ou was released from the facility in August.
