A federal judge has ordered that Wisconsin’s Department to Corrections provide gender-confirmation surgery to an inmate who has sought it for seven years.
“The rights of transgender persons and sex reassignment surgery remain politically controversial, even outside the prison context,” wrote U.S. District Judge James Peterson.
“And some members of the public are outraged at any effort to improve the health and well being of inmates,” he wrote. “But the true public interest lies in alleviating needless suffering by those who are dependent on the government for their care.”
Peterson’s order followed a three-day bench trial in March in the case of Nicole Campbell. Also known as Mark Campbell, who in 2007 began serving a 34-year-sentence for sexual assault of a child.
Peterson noted that the DOC had requested that, if Peterson ordered surgery, he first require Campbell to live for a year at Taycheedah Correctional Institution, the state’s largest women’s prison first.
“That request came as a surprise, because previously the DOC designated any inmate with a penis to a male prison, regardless of gender identity or expression,” Peterson wrote.
“I decline to impose any further prerequisites on Campbell’s sex reassignment surgery; she(sic) has waited long enough.”
Source: Judge orders Wisconsin to provide transgender inmate with surgery
If a prisoner really wanted to have an arm surgically removed the judge wouldn’t have said yes. Why is a desire for male genitalia removal any different?