SRS in prison (rant)

[RyGuy]

just saw on tumblr that it's either just been voted or about to be voted that inmates can now receive SRS (lower surgery rather than top was implied) at taxpayers' expense, so essentially free for them, while in prison.

I'M ALL ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS AND ALL THAT OTHER BULL->-bleeped-<- BUT UHM EXCUSE ME literally hearing that makes me want to go to jail. free srs? bottom surgery literally costs more than 20 years of the salary i was making at my last job (which i was fired from for being trans) if i don't spend one dime of it in those entire 2 decades. IN THE MEANTIME, I'M PAYING TAXES ON THAT SALARY WHICH IS GOING TOWARDS BOTTOM SURGERY FOR MENACES TO SOCIETY WHO I'VE NEVER EVEN MET. sorry, like i'm sure it works out nicely in the off chance that there's a not fully transitioned trans inmate in jail who is innocent of the crime they were convicted but at this point we're getting to such low probability that there may not even be such a person in the country.....

MY GOVERNMENT WILL PAY FOR RAPISTS, MURDERERS, THIEVES, LIARS, CHEATERS, AND THREATS TO SOCIETY to have the same surgery that I need and without, I can't much longer live a healthy and stable life. But if I want to abide by the law, it'll cost my half of the money I'll make in my adult life.

I'm so sick of life being unfair. And not even unfair in the little ways, but in ways that are so egregiously wrong that it makes me want to jump off a building.

[Sharky]

It's a bad man's world.

Now I got to figure out what crime to commit in Philly that will actually put me in prison. I used to know a guy who mugged someone and tried to stab them and he went right to house arrest. He was doing heroin.

[RyGuy]

It's a bad man's world.

Now I got to figure out what crime to commit in Philly that will actually put me in prison. I used to know a guy who mugged someone and tried to stab them and he went right to house arrest. He was doing heroin.

I want to go to prison so badly now. My girlfriend was like "ugh but think of all the other things you'd have to go through in there" and I was just like "it's worth it 100 times over"

[Sharky]

I want to go to prison so badly now. My girlfriend was like "ugh but think of all the other things you'd have to go through in there" and I was just like "it's worth it 100 times over"

My cusion says it really wasn't that bad, just boring. The guy I was talking about before said his experience was horrible. He got raped and was often beat up. He was super puny. Whenever we were at a restaurant he would eat a ton of food but never gained an ounce of fat or muscle.

[Wolf]

Dude, move to England.

1. We let EVERYONE in super easy
2. National Health Service

Surely that would be cheaper than getting it yourself? It's a bit more complicated than just moving here but it shouldn't take more than a few years to get registered on the NHS and stuff.

[Nygeel]

Simple answer is to go to a bank and rob them of one dollar. Go in, tell the bank teller that you're robbing them and want only singles. Take one dollar from the stack, tell the teller you're unarmed and walk out. Sit out front and wait for the cops.

I think a homeless guy got 15 years for doing just that.

I feel like the US prison system is very in need of repair. I personally wouldn't be pissed about your taxes going to somebody's bottom surgery but that 1 out of 32 people living in the US are under correctional supervision and 1 out of 142 are in prison. That's about 6.7 million people that are either in prison, on probation, or on parole.

[Korlee]

I agree with ya 100% it is wrong all the way and nothing can change that.  This society rewards the wicked and punishes the good.

Also the bigger thread on it with my whole opinions on it.
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,106926.msg806638.html#msg806638

[rock chick]

dang.....i'd have robbed a bank then rather than paying what I did! lol

[Butterflyhugs]

It's a bad man's world.

Now I got to figure out what crime to commit in Philly that will actually put me in prison. I used to know a guy who mugged someone and tried to stab them and he went right to house arrest. He was doing heroin.

Before you go getting yourself incarcerated, I'd like to point you towards some information on the situation of trans people in Pennsylvania's prison system: This is a Prison, Glitter is Not Allowed

Also, to all respondents, not everyone in prison (and this especially applies to the U.S. where even minor drug use or sex solicitation can land you in prison) is a murderer or thief or child molester. In addition to that, I'd rather view this in a way that validates transgender-related surgeries as "medically necessary" (and therefore deserving of ubiquitous insurance coverage) instead of ranting about how 1 penny of your tax dollars that will probably get refunded anyway might go to a prison's healthcare system. 

[Lee]

I have mixed feelings about this.  SRS is, in my mind, a medically necessary procedure and should therefore be offered to anyone covered for any other surgeries.  However, if the government recognizes this enough to offer it to prisoners, it should push insurance companies to pay for it as well. 

[Nygeel]

The US makes up 5% of the world's population and makes up 25% of the world's prisoners.

[Korlee]

The US makes up 5% of the world's population and makes up 25% of the world's prisoners.

We also punish people for things that a great many countries just let go.  So ya, it would make sense to have more people in prison when we'd actually punish more people for wrong doing.

[Korlee]

Before you go getting yourself incarcerated, I'd like to point you towards some information on the situation of trans people in Pennsylvania's prison system: This is a Prison, Glitter is Not Allowed

Also, to all respondents, not everyone in prison (and this especially applies to the U.S. where even minor drug use or sex solicitation can land you in prison) is a murderer or thief or child molester. In addition to that, I'd rather view this in a way that validates transgender-related surgeries as "medically necessary" (and therefore deserving of ubiquitous insurance coverage) instead of ranting about how 1 penny of your tax dollars that will probably get refunded anyway might go to a prison's healthcare system.

Sorry, as noted in my other posts I still feel the same way.  One penny is to damn much.

[Butterflyhugs]

And you're entitled to your feelings, however close-minded they may be.

The U.S. prison system's cruel standards of operation create more repeat-criminals during incarceration than it rehabilitates. The treatment of trans people in prison is especially heinous. As one transwoman put it "I may have broke the law, but I didn't ever do anything to deserve this."

Think about how some mishap of fate could one day put you in their positions before righteously proclaiming that people in prison deserve what they get.

[AmySmiles]

And you're entitled to your feelings, however close-minded they may be.

Why is it closed-minded to want surgery paid for those outside of prison before those inside of prison?  If the field were equal and everyone had theirs paid by the government I would agree with you, but that's not the way things are.  Even those in prison who are innocent had to have been suspicious enough to garner a conviction and jail sentence or they wouldn't be there for the long term.

So why should someone who is doing everything right, not getting into trouble, and scraping together all the money they can have to wait years for surgery out of pocket while someone in prison, of all places, gets surgery handed to them on a silver platter?

[Butterflyhugs]

Where did I say that's how things should be?

In fact, I specifically stated in my first post that this can now be used to advance insurance coverage for the average citizen: "If prisons recognize it as medically necessary, then it's medically necessary for me too."

Progress is progress, no matter where it starts. "Ranting" at progress is by definition counterproductive.

[AmySmiles]

Then you're far more optimistic than I am.  I don't see this as a first step, but as something that could cause enough backlash to hinder our progress with insurance companies (for a while at least).  Prison rights entitlements should logically come after those of the general public, not before.  The system is backwards.

I'm happy for those that can benefit, but things like this make me that much more jaded about how things work in the US.

Edit: Fixed bad word choice.

[~RoadToTrista~]

Why is it closed-minded to want surgery paid for those outside of prison before those inside of prison?  If the field were equal and everyone had theirs paid by the government I would agree with you, but that's not the way things are.  Even those in prison who are innocent had to have been suspicious enough to garner a conviction and jail sentence or they wouldn't be there for the long term.

So why should someone who is doing everything right, not getting into trouble, and scraping together all the money they can have to wait years for surgery out of pocket while someone in prison, of all places, gets surgery handed to them on a silver platter?

/agree

[rock chick]

I have mixed feelings about this.  SRS is, in my mind, a medically necessary procedure and should therefore be offered to anyone covered for any other surgeries.  However, if the government recognizes this enough to offer it to prisoners, it should push insurance companies to pay for it as well.

I tend to agree but insurance companies and the gov't will do whatever they can to not pay for someting saying that it's either elective or optional.....

[mimpi]

Dude, move to England.

1. We let EVERYONE in super easy
2. National Health Service

Surely that would be cheaper than getting it yourself? It's a bit more complicated than just moving here but it shouldn't take more than a few years to get registered on the NHS and stuff.

It isn't really that easy to get into the UK or onto the NHS! I speak with some experience on immigration issues...

If however one has Italian, Portuguese or Spanish ancestors there is a right of return and of citizenship. Am certain of this regarding Italy and fairly sure regarding Spain and Portugal. Once Italian just hop on the plane and the NHS in all its bare bones glory awaits you.

Alternative would be to drag yourself over to the local iranian consulate, quick conversion followed by flight to Tehran and there you go! (Rather you than me I hasten to add as I'm ->-bleeped-<-ed if I'm going to be forced to wear a chador for the rest of my days)