Opinion: Transgendered Inmate Denied Electrolysis For Hair Removal Treatment

The Original Article
BOSTON — A Boston federal judge has denied a request from a transgender woman to continue hair removal treatments as the inmate awaits a ruling on whether the state will pay for a sex-change operation.

U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf said Tuesday that Michelle Kosilek has not shown she will suffer “serious harm” without further electrolysis treatments. The judge says he may revisit the decision.
Kosilek was born as Robert and is serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife, Cheryl, in 1990.

Wolf ruled in 2002 that Kosilek was entitled to treatment for gender-identity disorder, but stopped short of ordering taxpayer-funded surgery. Kosilek sued again in 2005. State prison officials oppose the request.

Original story brought to us by365gay.com

Let’s Talk About This
This article leaves much to be talked about and discussed:

1. Our global community’s transgendered population is only recently beginning to find and exercise its voice. There is much to be learned and much to be understood. Not being transgendered myself, I cannot speak as to the intricacies of the movement, but I fervently and consistently voice my support and my desire to learn as much as I can. In addition, I can say that it is wrong to treat transgendered men and women as if their spiritual, psychological, and physical identities are mere hobbies that can be gone without. Perhaps Kosilek will not suffer any physical harm, however who here besides this woman can attest to the psychological and spiritual harm suffered through the ongoing daily disconnection between her gender and her sex.

2. That being said, we must discuss the fact that if electrolysis will be allowed for one female inmate’s hair removal, then we must allow it for every woman’s hair removal. Does the request for electrical hair removal, be it facial or otherwise, bear the same weight between a trans-woman and a woman who was born biologically female? For example, Rosie was born biologically male, is transitioning to female, and wishes to have her beard and mustache permanently removed. Is her request for hair removal the same as the woman who was born biologically female and has a beard/mustache or chest hair that she wants permanently removed?

3. Next their is the source of funding. As long as transgendered men and women are regarded as practitioners of some strange hobby, as opposed to human beings seeking to align themselves spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically — our communities will continue to abandon and disregard their needs for health care and other services. Taxpayer money will continue to be misallocated to ignore this segment of our society. It is sad, and it is an injustice.

Your thoughts?