Judge: Transgender inmates have right to therapy

[Chaunte]

Judge: Transgender inmates have right to therapy

   By RYAN J. FOLEY, Associated Press Writer Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press Writer – Thu Apr 1, 5:52 pm ET

MADISON, Wis. – A federal judge has struck down a unique Wisconsin law that prohibits transgender inmates from receiving taxpayer-funded hormone therapy, which alters their appearance to be more like that of the opposite sex.

A group of male inmates who identify as female had challenged the 2006 law with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin and Lambda Legal, a national gay rights group. They say they need the hormones to treat their gender identity disorder, and not having them would lead to severe health problems.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100401/ap_on_re_us/us_transgender_inmates_wisconsin_2

[Jasmine.m]

Well this only makes sense. GID is a disorder as defined in the DSM (whether the TG community agrees with that or not is irrelevant to this topic). To deny a person essential meds who has been diagnosed with a disorder is unethical.  I can think of no other DSM disorder where inmates are denied therapy. For example, an inmate suffering bipolar disorder would not be denied medication.