2014-JUN-20: MA: Massachusetts changes state policies concerning gender therapy services:
Governor Deval Patrick (D) of Massachusetts announced that his state will become the sixth state to enact non-discrimination policies regarding gender transition-related care. Such care has previous been extended to transgender persons by the states of California, Connecticut, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.
Kara Coredini, the Executive Director of MassEquality -- a pro-LGBT advocacy group -- said:
"This is a monumental step forward for the LGBT community in the Commonwealth. We applaud Governor Patrick’s leadership in ensuring that transgender people receive the medically-necessary services they need to lead healthy, productive lives. We look forward to working with the administration on the implementation of these changes."
Mason Dunn, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition said:
"Governor Patrick has once again illustrated his forward-looking and compassionate leadership in implementing these policies. As transgender rights become more visible across this country, Massachusetts will continue its tradition of being the beacon of light that so many other states can look to for guidance on equality."
Amy Whitcomb Slemmer, executive director of Health Care For All, said:
"This is an immensely important step forward in ensuring that health coverage meets an individual’s full range of health care needs. We commend the Administration for providing a model other states can use to improve access to care for all residents."1
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2015-APR-02: Judge orders California prison system to pay for inmate's sexual reassignment surgery:
U.S. District Court Judge Jon Tigar ordered the Corrections Department of California to arrange and pay for sexual reassignment surgery (SRS) on Michelle-Lael Norsworthy, 51, a male to female transsexual inmate. This is the first time that an order for SRS has been ordered by a court anywhere in the U.S. There was an earlier case in Texas where a desperate Texas inmate castrated himself, and SRA was later performed. However, that was done on an emergency basis.
Norsworthy had received a life sentence for murder and had lived as a woman in prison for about two decades.
A brief filed by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said:
"After having received continuous and effective medical and mental health treatment for over fifteen years to address her gender dysphoria, Plaintiff Michelle Norsworthy now seeks the extraordinary remedy of a preliminary injunction ordering state doctors to perform immediate sex reassignment surgery. But Norsworthy has not demonstrated a medical necessity for such surgery, much less any sudden or dramatic deterioration in her medical or mental health that might otherwise warrant such an order.""
Judge Tigar said:
"The weight of the evidence demonstrates that for Norsworthy, the only adequate medical treatment for her gender dysphoria is SRS. ...
Joyce Hayhoe, a spokesperson for medical care in California prisons said:
"This would be a first. ... [The cost of SRS is] several tens of thousands of dollars, possibly close to $100,000, depending on the circumstances. But It’s hard to estimate." 2
Culture News, a conservative Christian news source, was not pleased with the development. 3
The article from which the above information was taken may be in error. An earlier decision by District Court Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf in Massachusetts seems to have been the first time that a federal court had ordered a SRS procedure. That occurred in 2012. 4
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2015-JUN: Elie Bradford shares her transgender journey on You Tube:
5
Her video had received 714,042 views, 4,975 likes and 320 dislikes in the six months after it was posted on You Tube. She received 1,549 comments during that interval. Some were:
"you're gorgeous. i never thought you were trans. even before surgery"
"Congratulations!! being true to oneself and everyone else is the first step to happiness."
"This is disgusting and shows a mentally illness in the person."
"This is disgusting and the fact majority of people agree proves it."
"I'm thirteen and this gave me inspiration to keep going being trans and all."
"Jesus died to save sinners like these people and like me and you. "For GOD so loved the World that HE gave His only Son that whoever believes in HIM will not Perish but with have Eternal Life." John 3:16 Repent and turn from your wicked ways, promoting such Satanic and godless agendas!!!"
"... to all the trolls or ignorant people commenting on this video: Leave right now if this isn't your cup of tea or something you agree with, because you are not her or any one important to her. So you have NO right to judge her just because you don't agree with the decisions SHE chose to make. A little price of advice: ... don't hate on something you don't understand since you're only making yourself look like an idiot to other people reading."
"Wow. I'm so happy for u made ur dreams come trun in life i wish u many more."
"I watch this a lot. I'm still trying to figure my gender out. "Thanks so much for making this. I adore the music. Luv you."
"Faggots like you shouldn't live."
"I find it remarkable that so many people watch a video like this only to make hateful, narrow-minded and emotionally limited comments. I feel sorry for them and no matter how they try to justify their reactions (personal opinion, religion, "ugly truth" etc.), it is clear that they lead a miserable life. Elle, I'm so glad that you found happiness and wish you all the best in life. As a personal advice, ignore all the idiots who try to annoy you with their stupid comments... debating with them is exactly what they want so they can mask their own uncertainties by putting others down. Definitely not worth your time. And on a final note, you look stunning, wow!
The following information sources
were used to prepare and update the above
essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.
"Governor Announces Changes in Health Insurance Access for Transgender Community," The Rainbow Times, 2014-JUN-20, at: http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/
Don Thompson, "Judge orders CA to pay for inmate’s sex change," KOIN-TV, 2015-APR-02, at: http://koin.com/
2014-JUN-20: MA: Massachusetts changes state policies concerning gender therapy services:
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