Sex Change

mimo2005 · 05-31-2006, 05:05 PM

BOSTON -- A man serving a life sentence for murdering his wife is asking a federal judge to order the state to pay for a sex-change operation, arguing that denying him the surgery amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.
A psychiatrist testified Tuesday that he believes Robert Kosilek -- who now goes by Michelle -- will commit suicide if state corrections officials refuse to allow the surgery and Kosilek is unable to complete the transformation into a woman.
Kosilek, 57, was convicted of strangling his wife, Cheryl, in 1990.
In 2002, U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf ruled Kosilek was entitled to treatment for gender identity disorder, but he stopped short of ordering the state to pay for a sex-change operation.
Since then, Kosilek has received psychotherapy, female hormone treatments and laser hair removal.
Kosilek sued the Department of Correction for the second time last year, saying psychiatrists -- including two of the department's experts -- had determined a sex-change operation was medically necessary.
"We ask that gender identity disorder be treated like any other medical condition," said Kosilek's attorney, Frances Cohen.
Attorneys on both sides made opening statements Tuesday in a trial expected to last as long as two weeks. Kosilek opted to have the case heard by Wolf instead of a jury.
Neither side gave an estimate on the costs of the operation. Kosilek's attorney told Wolf she believes the corrections department could argue that the surgery should be covered by the department's provider.
Dr. George Richard Brown, a psychiatrist, said Kosilek's depression and anxiety have improved since the hormone treatment began.
If Kosilek does not have a sex-change operation, Brown said, "I believe that she would kill herself."
The department's attorney, Richard McFarland, said Commissioner Kathleen Dennehy decided to deny surgery because of "significant safety and security concerns."
Corrections officials fear Kosilek could be a target for assault by returning as a woman to the all-male, medium-security prison in Norfolk, McFarland said. If Kosilek is transferred to the women's prison in Framingham, there are concerns about risk to female inmates there.
During the 2002 trial, Kosilek testified to having gender identity disorder since age 3, attempting suicide twice and attempting self-castration.
Two psychiatrists will testify that Kosilek functions "at a very high level" and that a sex-change operation is not medically necessary, McFarland said.

http://kutv.com/watercooler/watercoo...151010127.html

**mgoldb2** · 05-31-2006, 05:28 PM

I think he enjoying jail too much if you know what I mean

**40sondacurb** · 05-31-2006, 05:29 PM

I would have gave him the hormones maybe just to prevent it from becoming a big deal. Hair removal? isn't that what a razor is for?

So we can take away every right of a prisoner except the right to change their sex? :rollseyes:

**DumberDrummer** · 05-31-2006, 06:13 PM

attempted self-castration?

How to you fail to cut it off?

95five-0 · 06-01-2006, 06:33 AM

Oh boo hoo the convicted wife murderer wants to kill himself. I don't see a problem with that. These people are in jail for rehabilitation not to waste tax dollars cause they want special treament.

Hey everyone that needs surgury that your HMO will not cover, just kill someone and get it for free.

Give me a break.

**Glaswegian** · 06-01-2006, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DumberDrummer

attempted self-castration?

How to you fail to cut it off?

Well, it's actually easier than you think. First of all you need to.......ooooops! said too much already.

elf · 06-01-2006, 08:06 AM

I have to agree with 95 on this one...who cares if he commits suicide? IMO he should be killed anyway, he is nothing but a leech on society.

ebackhus · 06-01-2006, 08:42 AM

I'm just glad it's not happening in my state... I'd go and protest the taxes being used for such a wasteful purpose.

**K-B** · 06-01-2006, 10:41 AM

Same here.

**JeremyC** · 06-01-2006, 12:45 PM

Theres a Norfolk in Boston?

Or is that Norfolk as in Norfolk Va where I am ? :?

bry623 · 06-01-2006, 01:49 PM

The tagline is Boston, which is Massachusettes.
Time for me to poiticize it again.

This kind of thing would never happen in my state. Yeah red states!! EB, in Texas, this guy would be executed in a heartbeat. And if he really is a woman trapped in a man's body, then he can take that up with God when he meets Him. BTW, the state should be arranging that meeting instead of arranging his genitallia.

**JeremyC** · 06-02-2006, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Corrections officials fear Kosilek could be a target for assault by returning as a woman to the all-male, medium-security prison in Norfolk, McFarland said.

Norfolk. like I said.

05-31-2006, 05:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
mimo2005 Manager, Emeritus Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 11,142 OS: xp	Sex Change BOSTON -- A man serving a life sentence for murdering his wife is asking a federal judge to order the state to pay for a sex-change operation, arguing that denying him the surgery amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. A psychiatrist testified Tuesday that he believes Robert Kosilek -- who now goes by Michelle -- will commit suicide if state corrections officials refuse to allow the surgery and Kosilek is unable to complete the transformation into a woman. Kosilek, 57, was convicted of strangling his wife, Cheryl, in 1990. In 2002, U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf ruled Kosilek was entitled to treatment for gender identity disorder, but he stopped short of ordering the state to pay for a sex-change operation. Since then, Kosilek has received psychotherapy, female hormone treatments and laser hair removal. Kosilek sued the Department of Correction for the second time last year, saying psychiatrists -- including two of the department's experts -- had determined a sex-change operation was medically necessary. "We ask that gender identity disorder be treated like any other medical condition," said Kosilek's attorney, Frances Cohen. Attorneys on both sides made opening statements Tuesday in a trial expected to last as long as two weeks. Kosilek opted to have the case heard by Wolf instead of a jury. Neither side gave an estimate on the costs of the operation. Kosilek's attorney told Wolf she believes the corrections department could argue that the surgery should be covered by the department's provider. Dr. George Richard Brown, a psychiatrist, said Kosilek's depression and anxiety have improved since the hormone treatment began. If Kosilek does not have a sex-change operation, Brown said, "I believe that she would kill herself." The department's attorney, Richard McFarland, said Commissioner Kathleen Dennehy decided to deny surgery because of "significant safety and security concerns." Corrections officials fear Kosilek could be a target for assault by returning as a woman to the all-male, medium-security prison in Norfolk, McFarland said. If Kosilek is transferred to the women's prison in Framingham, there are concerns about risk to female inmates there. During the 2002 trial, Kosilek testified to having gender identity disorder since age 3, attempting suicide twice and attempting self-castration. Two psychiatrists will testify that Kosilek functions "at a very high level" and that a sex-change operation is not medically necessary, McFarland said. http://kutv.com/watercooler/watercoo...151010127.html __________________ TSF has outgrown its server, again. Please help "Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi sed saepe cadendo"

05-31-2006, 05:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
mgoldb2 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 604 OS: windows xp	I think he enjoying jail too much if you know what I mean __________________ Last edited by mgoldb2; 05-31-2006 at 05:34 PM.

05-31-2006, 05:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
40sondacurb Don't be a menace Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,285 OS: Vista sp2	I would have gave him the hormones maybe just to prevent it from becoming a big deal. Hair removal? isn't that what a razor is for? So we can take away every right of a prisoner except the right to change their sex? :rollseyes: __________________ Donate to keep the forum running

05-31-2006, 06:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
DumberDrummer Cymru am byth Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,385 OS: Windows XP Pro SP2 My System	attempted self-castration? How to you fail to cut it off? __________________ Living with Louie dog's the only way to stay sane _____________________________________________ ... and with those words so begins my lifetime of longing for the devil's warm embrace

06-01-2006, 06:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
95five-0 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Corinth, TX Posts: 1,339 OS: 2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008	Oh boo hoo the convicted wife murderer wants to kill himself. I don't see a problem with that. These people are in jail for rehabilitation not to waste tax dollars cause they want special treament. Hey everyone that needs surgury that your HMO will not cover, just kill someone and get it for free. Give me a break. __________________ "If it's really a supercomputer, how come the bullets don't bounce off when I shoot it ?" <<PC Pitstop>><< AVG Free>><<Spybot>><<Everest 2.0>><<Trend Micro House Call>><<HijackThis How-to>>

06-01-2006, 08:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
elf Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 7,049 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 and Windows 7 My System	I have to agree with 95 on this one...who cares if he commits suicide? IMO he should be killed anyway, he is nothing but a leech on society. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.

06-01-2006, 08:42 AM	#8 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,318 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	I'm just glad it's not happening in my state... I'd go and protest the taxes being used for such a wasteful purpose. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

06-01-2006, 10:41 AM	#9 (permalink)
K-B Mod. Linux, Wrench Turner Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NY Posts: 2,885 OS: Vista, Ubuntu My System	Same here. __________________

06-01-2006, 12:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
JeremyC Resident Alchemist Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,148 OS: SuSE 10.0/XP Pro	Theres a Norfolk in Boston? Or is that Norfolk as in Norfolk Va where I am ? :? __________________

06-01-2006, 01:49 PM	#11 (permalink)
bry623 Manager, The Conversation Pit/Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: NW Territory circa 1787 Posts: 11,717 OS: winxp pro sp2	The tagline is Boston, which is Massachusettes. Time for me to poiticize it again. This kind of thing would never happen in my state. Yeah red states!! EB, in Texas, this guy would be executed in a heartbeat. And if he really is a woman trapped in a man's body, then he can take that up with God when he meets Him. BTW, the state should be arranging that meeting instead of arranging his genitallia. __________________ "If you aren't a liberal when you're 20, you have no heart. If you aren't a conservative when you are 50, you have no brain"