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06/10/06-06/12/06

Transgender convict sues prison to pay for sex-reassignment surgery

A transgender convicted murderer broke down in court Thursday as she testified in her lawsuit against the state of Massachusetts for not paying for her sex-reassignment surgery. Michelle Kosilek complained she felt distressed "every waking moment'' because she is not being allowed to complete her transformation from male to female.

She broke into tears when asked what would happen if the court did not order state prison officials to allow the sex-change operation. Kosilek, who has attempted suicide on two occasions because of her situation, said, "I would not want to continue existing like this,'' adding, "The greatest loss is the dying I do inside a little bit every day.''

The Massachusetts department of corrections will not accept that she is female, so she is incarcerated in the all-male medium-security prison in Norfolk. A psychiatrist testified last week that he believes Kosilek will commit suicide if state corrections officials refuse to allow the surgery.

Prior to transitioning, Robert Kosilek murdered his wife and was sentenced to life behind bars. (Sirius OutQ News)

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