 [Daily Mail, where America gets its news] The state of Indiana was ordered to cover the cost of gender-transition surgery for a transgender inmate who murdered his baby stepdaughter.
A federal judge ruled that Autumn Cordellioné, who was born Jonathan C. Richardson, had been subjected to 'cruel and unusual punishment' after being denied gender-affirming surgery according to the ACLU, which filed the suit.
United States District Court Judge Richard Young ordered that the Department of Corrections must provide Cordellioné the surgery at the earliest opportunity.
'Today marks a significant victory for transgender individuals in Indiana's prisons,' ACLU of Indiana's Legal Director, Ken Falk, said in a statement. 'Denying evidence-based medical care to incarcerated people simply because they are transgender is unconstitutional. We are pleased that the Court agreed.'
The inmate is currently serving a 55-year prison sentence for the strangulation of her 11-month-old stepdaughter after admitting to killing 'the little f**king b**ch.'
Young found that the surgery was 'medically necessary,' and denying Cordellioné the medical care violated her Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, according to court documents.
The Eighth Amendment protects citizens from cruel punishments, while the Fourteenth Amendment provides equal protection to all citizens under the law.
'Ms. Cordellioné has shown that injunctive relief is necessary,' the judge wrote. 'There is no dispute that gender dysphoria is a serious medical condition under the objective prong.'
Young said Cordellioné was at a 'substantial risk of irreparable injury absent of injunctive relief.' Without surgery, court documents said, she may engage in self-harm, including 'another attempt to castrate herself or to die by suicide.'
Cordellioné suffers from depression and borderline personality disorder.
Young also said he was aware that finding a surgeon to preform the risky surgery 'may take time,' as the state may have to hire a doctor who is not affiliated with the Department of Corrections.
While incarcerated at the Correctional Industrial Facility in Madison, Cordellioné began identifying as transgender and started taking synthetic estrogen and an anti-androgen spironolactone, which stops male hormones from working, according to Reduxx.
Cordellioné has requested surgery that would build her a vagina, as well as providing breast implants, a brow lift and reduction, a tummy tuck, gluteal implants, a uterus transplant, hair removal, and wigs, according to Reduxx.
Despite the requests, Young is only demanding an orchiectomy, which removes the testicles, and a vaginoplasty, which constructs a vagina.
| So if the taxpayers cover the costs, even of just the basic surgery, Mr. Richardson will be physically castrated and in permanent pain for the rest of his life? Hmmm…. |
Cordellioné is also involved in another lawsuit, as she identifies as Muslim and has sued for being denied a hijab by the prison chaplain.
|
