You raise a very good point RM. The transgender world is something I am familiar with on a social level, but certainly not so much on a clinical basis. I know a several men and women who fall into this category, although none of them have ever been in prison nor have they engaged in self-mutilation. I can only imagine how desperate a person would have to feel in order to lash out at oneself in that manner.

The prison system is responsible for keeping its inmates safe. Part of that is making certain they are housed in a reasonably safe environment with members of similar gender. Transsexuals are a breed unto themselves in this matter. There are not enough of them to set up a separate u...

You raise a very good point RM. The transgender world is something I am familiar with on a social level, but certainly not so much on a clinical basis. I know a several men and women who fall into this category, although none of them have ever been in prison nor have they engaged in self-mutilation. I can only imagine how desperate a person would have to feel in order to lash out at oneself in that manner.

The prison system is responsible for keeping its inmates safe. Part of that is making certain they are housed in a reasonably safe environment with members of similar gender. Transsexuals are a breed unto themselves in this matter. There are not enough of them to set up a separate unit, I would imagine, and yet something must be done. Perhaps offering treatment is the most efficient and plausible road to take with this issue. But I do not pretend to have that answer. In this case the judge believes the best way to deal with this is to offer the hormone therapy which will enable this person to be categorized in the preferred gender assignation. Lets us try to remember, that although it sounds very weird to most of us, even though I am a gay person, it is very real to the person possessing this condition.

I appreciate very much your open-minded attitude regarding this subject. So many people might offer a knee-jerk reaction that could and often is very offensive.