Massachusetts: State lawmakers call for appeal on surgery for trans prisoner

Almost 50 state lawmakers in Massachusetts have begun the process of attempting to reverse a decision made by a judge to give a trans woman prisoner gender reassignment surgery, as a treatment for gender dysphoria.

Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf described the surgery as the “only adequate treatment” for Michelle Kosilek, and his decision to administer the surgery as treatment was unprecedented.

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr and 49 other legislators wrote a letter calling the ruling an “absurd decision.”

They criticised the ruling, which offered the surgery, saying it is too expensive, and that it put a financial burden on the state, WCBV reported.

Michelle Kosilek identifies herself as female but is incarcerated in an male-only prison. She was previously known as Robert, was married to Cheryl Kosilek, and was convicted of murdering her in 1990.

She received a life sentence, with no parole, had attempted to take her own life, and to self-castrate since being locked up in the all male prison in Norfolk, Massachusetts.

• Dec 01 2023

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