An interesting thing to know about growing up under the Administration for Children's Services: If you are diagnosed with gender-identity disorder, your sex change operation will be courtesy of the city.
The Post reports that for the second time, a judge has ruled that the city should pay for the operation since Mariah Lopez was diagnosed with gender identity disorder. The city appealed, but Judge Sheldon Rand ruled in Lopez's favor yet again, saying that the ACS has to pay for all "necessary" medial treatment to its children, including a $20,000 sex change operation: "Mariah L. should be treated in order that she may go on with her life and be in a body which blends with the gender with which she identifies."
The case has been going for a few years, and Lopez, who is now 21, is very excited about the ruling. However, the city says it will appeal again, claiming that Lopez doesn't have steady work or housing and hasn't complied with psychotherapy. At any rate, we found Lopez's father's words touching. He told the Post, "She's my son-daughter, I love her. If it's in her blood to be a woman, so be it. I think if it helps other gay people, I'm all for it."




Since when has the sex change operation been constitutional right, to be covered by taxpayers?
I have no problem if these weirdos do this, I just cannot understand why taxpayers should pay for this. Taxes are high enough already.
Could someone please explain to me WHY taxpayers should pay for something like this?
Please understand that I am not bashing or anything like that. Everyone should have the right to live their life and whatnot, but gender reassignment seems like something that the individual should pay for and not the state.
Prediction: 60 comments.
This may be stating the obvious for some, but I think it's worth pointing out that gay isn't the same as trans-gender. There are plenty of trans-gender men who become women but want to be with women and there are plenty of lesbians who want nothing to do with men (no, not even to be one).
Thinking out the other combinations is left as an exercise for the reader.
Its good to know that my tax dollars are going towards genital mutilation.
horray
At any rate, we found Lopez's father's words touching. He told the Post, "She's my son-daughter, I love her. If it's in her blood to be a woman, so be it. I think if it helps other gay people, I'm all for it."
A touching sentiment, Dad. So pay for the surgery yourself.
But gender surgery costs an arm and a third leg
I see nothing wrong with my tax money going to her surgery. Rather, I'd willing pay slightly more taxes if all healthcare was covered, for everyone.
Come on people, it is not genital mutilation. It is a serious issue. Have some compassion.
It's accepted in Thailand, and many TG girls there actually go on to be very beneficial, contributing members of society there (yes, besides those ones you're thinking of). It's not as accepted here though, and also I have seen many young TG's here who are actually very uninspired, lazy, and preoccupied with their own issues. Of course, a generalization--but reading of this TG girl who isn't even working, only goes to prove my point.
We shouldn't be paying for a deadbeat, no matter what sex.
As it should be!
He deserves to be who he wants.
As it should be.
She deserves to be who she wants.
Kojak: equating a person's choosing the gender in which they identify with to unnecessary, routine circumsion does both a disservice. Gential mutilation occurs on boys and girls all over the world daily; it is a very serious matter.
It seems shocking that a mental disorder is being treated with highly invasive surgery.
This is wrong. Even if you think this barbaric mutilation is right for those afflicted with gender identity disorder, how can you make taxpayer pay for this. We're living in a city where police are paid poverty wages and we can't stop school buildings from crumbling. Now we're ordered by a judge to pay for this grotesque exercise in butchery?
This is wrong. Even if you think this barbaric mutilation is right for those afflicted with gender identity disorder, how can you make taxpayer pay for this. We're living in a city where police are paid poverty wages and we can't stop school buildings from crumbling. Now we're ordered by a judge to pay for this grotesque exercise in butchery?
I'm glad to hear that our tax money will go to something other than subsidizing already-rich corporations.
If this young woman has been in ACS custody, how can she be expected to pay for the surgery herself? Gender Identity Disorder is a disease of being miserable because one's body parts are the wrong ones; there is an approved treatment. Sex reassignment surgery is that treatment, and ACS has an obligation to provide the treatment. Makes sense to me.
activist judges at work. I wonder how much she paid for democratic party bosses for her position. Last time I checked the price was $50,000.
Read up on the disorder. It is not that simple.
Read up on the disorder. It is not that simple.
A note to the father: Transgendered does not equal gay.
Hey "Jamil Hussein",
Enough already with the right-wing frothing at the mouth. That tired old phrase "activist judges" really means nothing--especially when we're under the most "activist" Administration in history--and outs you as an O'Reilly/Limbaugh drone. Would you care to tell us how Hillary is secretly pro-mandatory gender reassignment, while you're at it?
To everyone who's frothing at the mouth at why taxpayers should be "forced" to pay for this: it's really simple, people. Mariah Lopez was diagnosed with GID while under the care of the ACS, and requested this treatment then. The ACS is required to provide all appropriate medical treatment to children under its care. Gender identity disorder is recognized by the medical and psychiatric communities, and sexual reassignment surgery is one of the approved treatments. This is no different from any other approved medical treatment, except that transphobia drives a whole lot of people to decry it.
How about asking something like "why should taxpayers be forced to pay billions upon billions of dollars to pay for an unjust war, instead of that money going towards things like universal healthcare and education," instead of freaking out about $20,000 towards a medically approved surgery that will make one woman's life a whole lot better?
Whatever Gothamist ! I still say if this person can get the city to pay for elective surgury then I should be able to add Two, or Three more inches to my [13"] tool and have the city foot the bill !