Mass. judge OKs sex change for inmate

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: 911 ,; Daily Blotter

AP / CBS

(CBS/AP) BOSTON - A federal judge has ordered the Massachusetts Department of Correction to provide a taxpayer-funded sex-change operation for transgender inmate Michelle Kosilek, who is serving life in prison for murder.

U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf ruled Tuesday in the case of Kosilek, who was born a man but has received hormone treatments and lives as a woman in an all-male prison. Robert Kosilek was convicted of murder in the killing of his wife in 1990.

Wolf is believed to be the first federal judge to order prison oficials to provide the surgery for a transgender inmate.

Michelle Kosilek first sued the Department of Correction 12 years ago. Two years later, Wolf ruled that Kosilek was entitled to treatment for gender-identity disorder, but stopped short of ordering surgery. Kosilek sued again in 2005, arguing that the surgery is a medical necessity.

Complete coverage of the Robert Kosilek case on Crimesider

13 Comments +

Add a Comment

See all 13 Comments


by AnnieDanny September 5, 2012 6:21 AM EDT: Nobody's butt is this important.; Reply to this comment


by artgirl33 September 5, 2012 5:26 AM EDT: This is a travesty! My money, taxpayer money??!!! And I'm struggling to pay health care costs???; Reply to this comment


by nohater September 5, 2012 4:19 AM EDT: the judge was appointed by ronald reagan, what a shocker. the man is going to make one ugly she/he if the surgery is ultimately approved. what a waste of taxpayer monies regardless of the result. the man should have been executed for his crime. thanks to all who oppose the death penalty and its swift application.; Reply to this comment


by centralcacoast September 4, 2012 11:53 PM EDT: I agree this is nuts. I disagree it's one party's doing. To much of the country is more concerned with ONE person's rights and/or privileges at the expense of the majority. Lifetime inmates don't have RIGHTS, WTH is the matter with these people?; Reply to this comment


by Davisrad September 4, 2012 11:33 PM EDT: Are you kidding me? Why should the taxpayers foot the bill for something as unnecessary as this? It's bad enough we have to pay to feed, house, clothe, etc. this low-life. If he has psychological issues due to his inability to accept himself the way he was born, well TOUGH! I'd rather our hard-earned tax dollars pay for someone who really needs the assistance.; Reply to this comment


by SUZAMBA September 4, 2012 8:28 PM EDT: No wonder this country is a mess, look at the fools who run it!
And of course, the tax payers will foot the bill!; Reply to this comment


by wattermelann September 4, 2012 8:18 PM EDT: This prisoner does not have the right to extraneous surgeries such as a sex change procedure and I have a right to chose not to pay for it and I am not coming next years tax time.; Reply to this comment

by mginga September 4, 2012 7:50 PM EDT

Unbelievable. What a total waste of taxpayer money. Law abiding citizens have enough trouble getting access to medical care, but as a murdering felon, you get a sex change. Next we'll be funding Rogaine for bald prisoners, weight reduction surgery for fat prisoners, etc. Congress needs to step in right now and legislate what is really "medically necessary"..

Reply to this comment


by TaxpayerLeaning2Anarchy September 5, 2012 3:56 AM EDT: Hate to break it to you but THIS GUY is already getting electrolysis.

There are thousands of tax paying citizens who'd love to have pretty smooth legs, but NOOOOO, we gotta pay for a murderer and a man at that to have them.

EVERY single day the leaders of this country make an argument to loose their right to tax us.

by otimus September 4, 2012 1:52 PM EDT

maybe they should send "it" to texas, I here there is a drug cocktail that would end "it's" suffering.

Reply to this comment


by martqbd September 4, 2012 10:41 PM EDT: I agree but can we take the organs for donation. I do not like waste. I agree catch'em , hear'em and hang 'em.
It is not that complicated.