Did you hear the one about the transgender prisoner serving a life sentence for murder who wanted a sex change? It looks like he's about to get one, and Massachusetts taxpayers are going to have to foot the bill for the whole shebang. Get ready for the explosion in 3 ... 2 ...
What? We're still here? Maybe that's because the reason U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf has ruled that Michelle Kosilek, who was born Robert Kosilek, deserves the controversial surgery makes a whole lot of sense.
It's about the basic rights we afford our prisoners here in America that sets us apart from other, more barbaric countries. We provide our prisoners with necessary medical care. And that's what this gender reassignment surgery is. Because gender identity disorder isn't a choice. It's as the name describes, a disorder, recognized by reputable medical associations.
There may be people in our society who refuse to accept the science behind it, but the government is charged with stepping beyond personal beliefs in these matters. It doesn't matter what a judge THINKS is a medical issue. What matters is what falls under a doctor's description of a medical issue.
And it's all there, in black and white, on the website of our own National Institutes of Health:
Gender identity disorder is a conflict between a person's physical gender and the gender he or she identifies as. For example, a person identified as a boy may actually feel and act like a girl. The person is very uncomfortable with the gender they were born.
That's what Robert Kosilek was diagnosed with after landing in the prison system in the early '90s for murdering his wife, Cheryl. Since then, Robert has become Michelle, using hormone treatments to function largely as a woman.
Gender reassignment isn't just the next logical step. It's also a means to stop her suicide attempts, which, frankly, as a murderer who is dealing with a life sentence, is her easy way out. It may be cheaper for the state, but then what is the point of trying to punish murder with a life sentence?
Because Michelle Kosilek will still be punished, sex change or not. She will still have to live out her life in prison. Really, this whole thing doesn't change any of the disgust I have for a woman who takes another's life. But it does set several precedents.
First, and foremost, this ruling proves that science comes out ahead of rhetoric in determining what qualifies as medical care in this country. Second, the ruling acknowledges that we are still a country where even scum in prison are treated like human beings because we are a civilized nation.
What do you think of the court ruling that will allow this prisoner to get a sex change?
Image via New Rochelle Police Department
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Comments 28
1) He has a right to three square meals, fresh air and health check ups. That should be it. He murdered someone and then used the threat of suicide to get his way. So if someone wants freedom and continues to attempt suicide should we grant then freedom?
2) He MURDERED his wife. Who the hell cares what he wants. I am sure Cheryl didn't want to be murdered but he chose to do so anyways. Why should his wishes become so damn important?
3) There are too damn many people in America living below the poverty line for us tax payers to be paying for this dude to have his Johnson wacked off. Maybe he should have thought of that before he got locked up for life.
Obviously I don't believe this man deserves the right to something like this.
After the surgery will they move the new her to a female prison?
First off, she is a he. This is exactly the kind of thing that pisses people off when it comes to the waste our government spends "our" money on. So, let's look at the many of "disorders" that people in prison have. Alcoholics, drug addicts, sex addicts, gambling addicts, pedophile and so on. I have hear over and over that these are diseases and people can not control them nor or they responsible for them. Should we allow them all to have what will make them happy? A person who is a pedophile is sick and conflicted with their love of a young child, should we make young children available to them to feed their "disease". Sorry but if you are in prison, you don't get a right to have the things that feed your disease!!!
Autumn~ from what I heard, the court has decided that it he is to stay in the male prison and it is up to the prison to keep him safe after the surgery. Yea, wish him the best of luck with that!
So wrong. Its actually pretty sad, hubby and I were joking last night that I should just go to jail for two years so I dont have to pay for the rest of my college education and I will still get my internet, cable and a free meal.