*TRIGGER WARNING*
Ophelia De'Lonta hearing in inmate sex change case
The Associated Press, ABC News, August 26, 2013 - 08:32 am

A transsexual Virginia prison inmate should find out soon whether she will be evaluated for sex-change surgery.

U.S. District Court Judge James C. Turk in Roanoke told lawyers for Ophelia De'Lonta on Monday that he would rule promptly.

Born Michael A. Stokes, De'Lonta has been in prison for 30 years serving a 73-year sentence for bank robbery.

De'Lonta has been diagnosed with a severe form of a rare, medically recognized illness known as gender identity disorder...

De'Lonta's suit claims that denying her sex-assignment surgery is a violation of her Eighth Amendment right against cruel and unusual punishment.