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