Comments on: Judge bars trans prisoner from hair removal

By: Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Pie — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:47:17 +0000

I don’t want her getting “special” rights, it’s just that it’s due to the prison’s restrictions that she can’t complete this basic transitioning step. It’s just an odd system. Escort her to the electrolysis sessions, which she can pay for with her own money, back to prison, done. They just insist on making this awkward for everyone.

By: Harvey

Harvey — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:07:18 +0000

I am in the firm belief that if you commit a crime and are jailed as a consequence then they are there to be punished therefore should only have the basic rights. This person denied a life so why should she be given special rights when she needs to serve her sentence and learn from the mistakes she chose.

By: Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Pie — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:11:40 +0000

No, I don’t agree that a murderer has the right to walk the streets. I also don’t agree that socio-political states have the right to lock people up. It’s certainly a good idea, but people must never forget that locking others up is not “right”, merely pragmatic. Another’s evil deeds do not give one the right to be evil in return. The only difference between vigilante justice and state justice is the scale and complexity.

Really – well if transwomen who have NOT murdered their ex-wives have to pay for their own hair removal; I hardly think it is appropriate for the state to pay for the hair removal of a murderer.

I agree entirely – she should have to pay for it herself.

Oh, wait – she CAN’T. And who is it that bars prisoners from visiting salons and paying for their own treatment? The state. So who’s to blame if taxpayer money goes towards helping a prisoner? That’s right: the state.

By: Rahman

Rahman — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:06:06 +0000

I agree with judge. Prison is not the place for show ups.

By: Simon Murphy

Simon Murphy — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:21:27 +0000

“As a trans woman myself I don’t see how it is fair that trans friends of mine in the USA are paying for laser hair removal yet if you commit a crime you get it for free in prison.”

Really – well if transwomen who have NOT murdered their ex-wives have to pay for their own hair removal; I hardly think it is appropriate for the state to pay for the hair removal of a murderer.

By: Chloe

Chloe — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:51:32 +0000

@Pete, yes I stick to my same answer. First off women with “male patterned hair growth” usually have an underlying hormone imbalance (and if this is the case then get her treated). That aside, her having excess hair growth is not going to cause her ill health. Give her a rasor and some shaving cream and let’s get back to work on getting more rights for LGBT folks who are law abiding!

By: Abi1975

Abi1975 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:23:13 +0000

As a trans woman myself I don’t see how it is fair that trans friends of mine in the USA are paying for laser hair removal yet if you commit a crime you get it for free in prison.

Yes she should be treated with dignity and respect but she should not be entitled to more favourable treatment than the 99% of law abiding trans women in the USA. I would say allowing her laser treatment on her face is essential for her to establish her identity as a woman. But she can make do with a razor for the rest of her body hair.

Being trans is not a mental problem just the same as being gay is not. Trans people do however experience mental health issues from living socially in the wrong gender role. Just as a gay person living as a heterosexual experiences mental health issues from denying who they are.

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:55:08 +0000

“If she is having mental issues and is trying to commit suicide then she should get concelling on behalf of the state, not hair removal.”
If a woman who was assigned female at birth killed her husband (reason not being given) and suffered severe mental problems from strong male pattern hair growth, would you say the same?

By: Chloe

Chloe — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:39:40 +0000

@Blondie, then what is the point of prison? I don’t think people should be tortured, but what about the suffering of the woman she killed? If she is having mental issues and is trying to commit suicide then she should get concelling on behalf of the state, not hair removal.

@PP do you think this person has the right to walk the street after murdering someone? Actually the state doesn’t grant itself the right to incarcerate people, it is the people of the state who grant that right! Yes i agree, hair removal is essential for transition, but it is not a treatment (of mental issues). Her lawyers claimed it was a “Serious medical need”, how so? Again if it is mental anguish then get her therapy to deal with her feelings and mental anguish, it will do far more than hair removal in reducing her ‘mental anguish’.

By: Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Pie — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:07:53 +0000

I agree with Blondie.

Electrolysis is a pretty basic step in the transition process, not to mention a comparatively cheap one. If a state awards itself the right to incarcerate people against their will, no matter who these people are, it has a responsibility to the physical and mental well-being of these people.

By: Blondie

Blondie — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:35:15 +0000

In response to the so far two comments, so what other rights should we stop? maybe we should stop people from having certain medication, if they kill they don’t have that right, do they? Maybe jail shouldn’t be easy but she clearly is having mental problems with this, she has tryed to commit suicide twice, if we are going to not grant her such treatment we might as well just make killing a death penalty with torture as an extra.

By: Mihangel apYrs

Mihangel apYrs — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:31:53 +0000

it’s hard to feel much sympathy in view of the facts:
a she is a murderer
b the money she wants spent on her could be spent (inter alia) on more deserving trans people

By: Chloe

Chloe — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:22:19 +0000

So true, I am one of those that believe that while in jail you should be treated with respect, but also it is supposed to be a punishment. Next time don’t kill your wife and you will have the freedom to pursue your transition. In the meantime think about what you have done and serve your time…

By: Jwalsh

Jwalsh — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:47:15 +0000

MAybe if she didn’t kill her wife, things would have worked out differently….