Georgia Prisons To Provide Treatment For Transgender Inmates
It comes after a lawsuit filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center on behalf of Georgia inmate Ashley Diamond.
Diamond’s case was supported by the Justice Department.
Travis McKie-Voerste, Dalton State Counselor,"I think it’s a step in the right direction I think there’s more distance to go on that, being incarcerated in a facility with a gender they might not identify with."
Some Georgia taxpayers are concerned that their dollars will be used by prisons for something they feel is against their religion.
James Bodine, Ringgold,"That’s not the way God intended it to be, so if they are going to go after a sex change or whatever i’m not for it".
Bob McDaniel, Ringgold,"I think it’s wrong for the taxpayers having to do it, our society is kind of lean in that way we been pushed this way, we got to stand up for our rights".
Other Georgians feel hormone treatment and gender dysphoria are real medical issues that need to be treated.
Willie McBride, LGBT Activist,"Going through the process and need to keep having the hormones so when they are ready to have the surgery it will be done, as far as the ones that are incarcerated they do need to have that no matter what".
But how much does the treatment cost?
Shane Miller, S and W Pharmacy Dalton,"A few thousand dollars a year, if you get into the surgery you are talking tens of thousands of dollars maybe 40 or 50 thousand dollars".
Miller said it’s important to remember this treatment is usually given consistently over time whether that person is doing time or not.
"The application of the hormones are pretty straight forward, i think the specialty practice would have to come from the emotional support the counseling".
Georgia Department of Correction officials were unavailable for comment on the rule changes.
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