Lawsuit asks state to pay for inmate's sex-change operation- What do you think?

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by Gemme

I didn't even finish the article. I got to the section that describes how she arrived into the pen. 'nuff said for me.

Does she really think that having the surgery and being moved to a woman's prison means she won't be raped? REALLY? It just means it will be with a pipe or fist instead of a penis.

I say no. I know of many, many folks here who bust their asses to make it through life towing the line and they don't commit stupid ass crimes over CLOTHES, for Christ's sake! They pay for the surgeries that are to correct nature's mistakes on their own or at least using their own energy (if they receive donations, etc). My partner and I are trying to design 1, 3, 5, and 10 year plans so that he can have the necessary surgeries that this woman wants.

So what message would this send out? If you are trans and you still need surgery, go commit a crime in CA and they'll pay for it. Nice.

This really and truly pisses me off to my very core.

Good point about rape in prison- no matter the gender.

You bring up my initial feelings when this story hit our CA news waves. I know a lot of transpeople that do exactly this- do a financial plan for surgeries- totally out of pocket. These are tax paying people here in CA. In some situations, insurance coverage is utilized- but damn few. The hormone treatment also needs doc visits, blood work, follow-ups, etc. Then there can be individual problems to work through.

I have no problem with basic medical care for inmates- and I don't distinquish between the crimes they committed. I do, however, as you state- don't give a flying hooray about sexual predators that kill and torture. I worked too long in victim's rights advocacy and with sexually abused kids and 99.9% of those cases in which I did expert whitness work, the perp was not new to the criminal justice system. He or she had perpetrated before.

I think a diabetic ought to get insulin, etc. and chemo therapy for inmates with cancer- essential medical treatment. Food and shelter.

Until or unless the state of CA is going to pay for these kinds of services for all transgendered people, or there are changes in insurance coverage for everyone, I am opposed to this.

Frankly, I'm more concerned for the safety and well being of public emplyees that work in prisons.