Transgender ally Zack Ford blasts transphobic Massachusetts legislators

Think Progress’ Zack Ford

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Time and time again, I find Think Progress‘ Zack Ford allying solidly with trans folks. I especially like the way he holds politicians accountable for their transphobic actions. While it is true he does write primarily about LGBT issues and states he is gay, however, if one didn’t know any better, you’d think he was transgender with his intensity sometimes. Either way, my hats off to you Mr. Ford.

Meanwhile, Ford takes issue with some Massachusetts legislators who he says are retaliating against trans people following the issuance of a new Department of Education anti-discrimination policy for trans students.

Here are some transphobic comments made by MA state legislators:

Rep. Colleen Garry: “An anatomical male in a locker room could make girls feel uncomfortable and vice versa. . . .”

Rep. Marc Lombardo: “It’s time we say enough to this radical social agenda promoted by the administration and use common sense to protect our children.”

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These transphobic legislators have shown exactly why the new anti-trans discrimination policy was needed.

Read Ford’s entire article here:  Massachusetts Lawmakers Retaliate Against Youth With ‘Transgender Issues’ | ThinkProgress.

Think Progress’ Zack Ford

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Filed under: Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Legislative, Transphobia, Massachusetts, Rep. Colleen Garry, Rep. Marc Lombardo, Think Progress, Zack Ford

Judge tells state of Mass. to report on trans inmate sex reassignment surgery prep status

(Photo on left: Boston Globe)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — U.S. District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf, concerned that the state of Massachusetts is dragging its heels, stepped up enforcement of his order to prep for the sex reassignment surgery (SRS) of trans inmate Michelle Kosilek.

As you may recall, Judge Wolf earlier ruled that withholding SRS for Kosilek amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. (Note: this ruling only applies to Kosilek, not all transgender inmates in Massachusetts). More on the Kosilek case here (several articles): http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/?s=kosilek

According to a brief news report in the Boston Herald and the Mansfield Patch, last week, Judge Wolf ordered the corrections chief to submit a monthly report signed under oath on the status of the preparations. Judge Wolf has apparently put the actual surgery on hold while the state appeals its case, but wants the preparations completed.

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It appears that if the higher court upholds his ruling, Judge Wolf wants the surgery to go forward shortly there after.

Stay tuned.

There wasn’t much more information beyond what I’ve stated: State Must Report Progress on Kosilek’s Sex Change Operation – Mansfield, MA Patch.

(Photo on left: Boston Globe)

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Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ DVD here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963781332
The Guerrilla Angel Report is associated with Wipe Out Transphobia: http://www.wipeouttransphobia.com/

Filed under: Judicial, Courts, SRS, Sex Reassignment Surgery, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, cruel and unusual punishment, inmate, Judge Mark L. Wolf, Massachusetts, Michelle Kosilek

Angry legislator proposes bill to pay for all sex reassignment surgeries to ‘make a point’

Rep. James Lyons is toying with trans people (Photo: Boston Herald)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Don’t be mislead — this legislator isn’t on the side of trans people — he’s toying around with us. Massachusetts state Rep. James Lyons, a Republican, is proposing this bill out of anger in reaction to a federal judge awarding legal fees to transgender convict Michelle Kosilek’s attorneys.

As you may recall, U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf ruled that denying Kosilek sex reassignment surgery (SRS) amounted to cruel and unusual punishment and ordered that the surgery be performed. He later ordered the state pay Kosilek’s attorney fees.

Rep. Lyons said he is trying to make a ‘profound point’ of his disagreement with the judge’s decisions by the introducing of a bill to pay the expense of SRS for all transgender people in the state. He wouldn’t say if he thinks it’ll pass.

Lyons: “The hard working citizens who follow the rules and pay their taxes do not qualify for benefits like this. If we provide extravagant benefits like this to a vicious murderer, then why deny them to the law abiding citizenry? . . .”

Stopping cruel and unusual punishment is not an extravagant expense.

Rep. Lyons is playing a dangerous game here. He’s using transgender people as pawns. Many trans people already live under dire circumstances — both physically and mentally. Toying trans people around like this is cruel. There should be consequences for Rep. Lyon’s reckless behavior.

More about Michelle Kosilek and the rulings by Judge Mark Wolf: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/?s=michelle+kosilek

More about Rep. Lyon: http://www.eagletribune.com/latestnews/x1525001143/Lyons-seeks-to-make-profound-point-about-prisoners-sex-change-operation

Rep. James Lyons is toying with trans people (Photo: Boston Herald)

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Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ DVD here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963781332
The Guerrilla Angel Report is associated with Wipe Out Transphobia: http://www.wipeouttransphobia.com/

Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Legislative, SRS, Sex Reassignment Surgery, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Judge Mark Wolf, Massachusetts, Michelle Kosilek, Rep. James Lyons

Transgender inmate’s lawyers to get $700K in ‘denying SRS is cruel and unusual punishment’ case

Michelle Kosilek

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — No doubt mainstream media is going to exploit this decision by the federal judge who earlier ruled favorably on transgender inmate Michelle Kosilek’s request for SRS, into a barrage of attacks against trans people, so I might as well get ahead of this and state the facts.

If you recall, Federal Judge Mark Wolf, in a landmark decision last September, ordered the state of Massachusetts to provide SRS for Kosilek because the judge decided that withholding the surgery in Kosilek’s case amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. What the judge did not say was that all trans inmates can get SRS at the state’s expense on demand. He based his decision on the fact Kosilek endured 9 years of medical treatment before reaching the point that SRS was “only adequate treatment” left. Other prisoners would likely need to follow the same course of treatment before SRS is considered.

Being awarded legal fees is only the natural course of action here. Any prisoner found suffering from cruel and unusual punishment at the hands of the state is entitled for legal fees reimbursement. Such large payments have been awarded before. This should be no surprise to anyone.

The state of Massachusetts is trying to appeal Wolf’s decision, however, the judge said Kosilek’s team would forgo the fees if the state drops their appeal. The state had no comment.

More articles about the Kosilek case: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/?s=kosilek

Compiled from reports from The Associated Press and The Boston Globe.

Michelle Kosilek

Judge: Mass. sex change inmate’s lawyers get $700K.

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You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ DVD here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963781332
The Guerrilla Angel Report is associated with Wipe Out Transphobia: http://www.wipeouttransphobia.com/

Filed under: Judicial, Courts, SRS, Sex Reassignment Surgery, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, cruel and unusual punishment, federal court, Judge Mark Wolf, legal fees, Massachusetts, Michelle Kosilek, sex reassignment surgery, srs

Legislator tries end run around federal judge’s transgender “cruel and unusual punishment” ruling

Mass. State Rep. John H. Rogers tries end run around federal judge’s “cruel and unusual punishment” finding

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Michelle Kosilek, the transgender Massachusetts prisoner who a federal judge said the denial of her doctor’s recommendation of sex reassignment surgery amounted to cruel and unusual punishment, has found yet another twist in her legal pursuit of getting medical care. A Massachusetts legislator wants to run an amendment through the legislature to block payment of a federal judge’s order to have the surgery.

The state of Massachusetts apparently denied Kosilek’s attorney’s offer to drop the $800,000 in legal fees awarded if they let her have the surgery and are instead filing an appeal of the decision. State Rep. John H. Rogers, a Democrat, however, wants to go further and block her medical funding through legislative action unless the U.S. Supreme Court tells them otherwise.

The legal ramifications of this could return to haunt the legislature. Deliberately doing an end run around a federal judge’s ruling that the state is engaging in cruel and unusual punishment is unwise on any level.

Not much about this case is making sense, including Rogers’ actions — stay tuned.

More on the federal judge’s ruling for Michelle Kosilek’s SRS: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/gov-patrick-its-not-about-sex-reassignment-surgery-or-the-cost/

http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/09/08/transgender-inmate-srs-saga-dont-second-guess-judge-unless-prepared-to-deal-with-onslaught-of-marbles/

Zack Ford gets into the specific legal ramifications here: Anti-Trans Massachusetts Lawmaker Attempts To Circumvent Federal Court Ruling | ThinkProgress.

Mass. State Rep. John H. Rogers tries end run around federal judge’s “cruel and unusual punishment” finding

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Filed under: Judicial, Courts, SRS, Sex Reassignment Surgery, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, cruel and unusual punishment, Massachusetts, Michelle Kosilek, prisoner, Rep. John H. Rogers

Newton, Massachusetts appoints trans person to HRC in historic move.

Trans woman Holly Ryan appointed to Newton, Mass. Human Rights Commission (Photo: genderdiversity)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Holly Ryan’s appointment to the city’s Human Rights Commission follows the recent passage of Massachusetts’ An Act Relative to Gender Identity trans equality bill. Appointed by Mayor Setti Warren, Ryan says the position will help her to educate people on trans issues.

Ryan also has great things to say about Newton — a place she lived her whole life. Ryan:  “Newton just seems to always embrace diversity, no matter what it is.”

Kara Suffredini of MassEquality: “I think it’s historic in Newton and Massachusetts and across the country. There are just not very many openly transgender leaders in any kind of city or state-wide or national office.”

I did find another bit of interesting information in the news report — it is said 33,000 trans people live in Massachusetts. While I’ve no reason to doubt the numbers, I’m curious how they made this calculation. I may investigate this further.

More:  Newton mayor appoints first transgender representative to Human Rights Commission – Boston.com.

Trans woman Holly Ryan appointed to Newton, Mass. Human Rights Commission (Photo: genderdiversity)

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Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Act Relative to Gender Identity, Holly Ryan, human rights commission, Kara Suffredini, Massachusetts, MassEquality, Mayor Setti Warren, trans equalit, trans woman, transsexual