Hormones ordered for transgender inmate
Advocate.com reports that U.S. District Judge Mikel Williams ruled July 27 that an inmate should have female hormone therapy paid for by the state after she castrated herself with a disposable razor blade.
Jenniffer Spencer, who was born biologically male, sued the Idaho Department of Corrections, claiming she was subjected to cruel and unusual punishment when the doctors failed to diagnose her gender-identity disorder and treat her with female hormones.
In August 2004, Spencer tried to hang herself in her cell. Two months later, she tried to castrate herself, failing in the first attempt but succeeding on a second attempt 10 days later.
A trial over the lawsuit has not been scheduled, but Williams ruled that the state must provide Spencer with psychotherapy and estrogen pending trial.
Gay artist burns valuable Quran
Gay.com reports that out gay artist Charles Merrill says he’s made a statement against Muslim homophobia by burning an antique Quran valued at $60,000. Merrill is known for his art, which incorporates the themes of GLBT activism and homophobia.
“The purpose of editing and burning Abrahamic Holy Books is to eliminate homophobic hate,” Merrill said in a statement.
The 73-year-old New York artist inherited the rare book from his late wife, Evangeline Johnson Merrill, daughter of the founder of Johnson & Johnson. She was given the text by the king of Jordan.
Transgender women barred from club
365gay.com reports that the Arizona attorney general opened an investigation after transgender women complained they were barred from a nightclub in Scottsdale.
An official complaint was filed by the chair of Scottsdale’s Human Relations Commission, who is transgender and was one of the women barred from the club.
Michele deLaFreniere says she was told by club owner Tom Anderson, “I don’t want your business or your kind here.”
Anderson does not dispute that he has barred transsexual women from using the women’s washroom. He also said he could not allow transsexuals to use the men’s room because the transgender women were “at risk of getting beat up.”