A man serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife is asking a federal judge to order the state to pay for a sex-change operation for him, saying that denying him the surgery amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.
A psychiatrist testified Tuesday that he believes Robert Kosilek will kill himself if state correction officials refuse to allow the surgery and Kosilek is unable to complete his transformation into a woman.
Kosilek, 57, was convicted of strangling his wife, Cheryl, in 1990.
I prefer the suicide option. If LBGT activists start lobbying for Kosilek's right to become Roberta, I give up. Sadly, I suspect some will.
Kosilek sued the Department of Correction for the second time last year, saying that numerous psychiatrists who had examined him -- including two of the DOC's own experts -- had determined that a sex- change operation is "medically necessary."
"We ask that gender identity disorder be treated like any other medical condition," said Kosilek's attorney, Frances Cohen.
Kick me out of the club if you like, but gender identity disorder is not like any other medical condition, particularly if you're a convicted murderer.
Actually, the prisoner in question now prefers to identify as "Michelle." Yes, I live in the People's Republic of Massachusetts, where this is taking place. I mean, seriously. There are free men and women with gender issues who are unable to afford treatment/surgery and have to "go without" -- why does this guy's status as a prisoner make this surgery "medically necessary" -- and who would really miss him if he did off himself?
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