A transgender inmate who has lived as a woman since 1993 is not entitled to state-funded sex reassignment surgery or to be transferred to a women's prison, a California appeals court ruled Wednesday.

The First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco did not explain in a brief order dismissing Lyralisa Stevens' lawsuit why it concluded she does not have to be given a gender change operation while serving 50-years to life for murder at the all-male California Medical Facility in Vacaville.

But the court said Stevens does not need to be moved to a women's prison because Vacaville officials were protecting her adequately by assigning her to a single cell apart from male inmates. If her housing arrangements are changed or her personal safety is "otherwise compromised," Stevens can petition for additional relief then, the court said.

Very very frustrating and these makes me very mad.
if you want to read the hole story you can check out the resources
Resources - http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/US_Transgender_Inmate_597249C.shtml     

Hmmm...  If she gets her own cell, then I agree with the court's decision. They better be careful though, they may screw up and set a precedent that places every trans person in their own cell - just pick your poison.

I was in protective custody for 18 months.

It is hell worse than the sentances handed out to other offenders and as such it is cruel and unusual.

There are enough transwomen in the california penal system that they could put them all in the same cell blocks and they could at least socialize with eachother.

The lack of social interaction in a solitary cell situation is a soul destroyer.

Quote from: cynthialee on September 21, 2011, 11:23:51 PM
I was in protective custody for 18 months.

It is hell worse than the sentances handed out to other offenders and as such it is cruel and unusual.

There are enough transwomen in the california penal system that they could put them all in the same cell blocks and they could at least socialize with eachother.

The lack of social interaction in a solitary cell situation is a soul destroyer.

just horrible.. 

I'm not sure how I feel about  the court's decision... on one hand it's easy to feel that she is being treated unfairly and I'm sure there's a ton of trans ignorance influencing the decision, but on the other hand she murdered someone and now wants free SRS? When there are thousands of people who don't break the law and still have to go through financial hell to transition? I'm definitely of two minds on this one.

I think that a part of this decision is that somehow, they know, even if they don't understand, that should they give out SRS to inmates that are clearly trans that there'd be a rash of crimes done by people who absolutely can not afford SRS.....

I do believe that if transition was covered by "all" insurance in the states, this wouldn't be an issue.

Quote from: Miniar on September 22, 2011, 04:45:11 AM
I think that a part of this decision is that somehow, they know, even if they don't understand, that should they give out SRS to inmates that are clearly trans that there'd be a rash of crimes done by people who absolutely can not afford SRS.....

I do believe that if transition was covered by "all" insurance in the states, this wouldn't be an issue.

I would. Wouldn't even give it a second thought. I'm already partially excluded from the legal economy due to discrimination. Might as well use the system. /Evil Emma

Quote from: cynthialee on September 21, 2011, 11:23:51 PM
I was in protective custody for 18 months.

It is hell worse than the sentances handed out to other offenders and as such it is cruel and unusual.

There are enough transwomen in the california penal system that they could put them all in the same cell blocks and they could at least socialize with eachother.

The lack of social interaction in a solitary cell situation is a soul destroyer.

I was thinking in the direction of previous posts until I read this.

I just don't have any experiences in this area. Thank you Cynthialee for the information.

Quote from: Amy85 on September 22, 2011, 04:35:05 AM
I'm not sure how I feel about  the court's decision... on one hand it's easy to feel that she is being treated unfairly and I'm sure there's a ton of trans ignorance influencing the decision, but on the other hand she murdered someone and now wants free SRS? When there are thousands of people who don't break the law and still have to go through financial hell to transition? I'm definitely of two minds on this one.

I agree more with the end of what you said really... I am just sorry but you broke the law..  You should not get something like this paid for period or any type in these cases.  Especially even more so when so many law abiding people have to struggle to get it.