The far-left ACLU is suing on behalf of a convicted, mauled child murderer in hopes of forcing Indiana to use taxpayer money for the inmate’s gender-affirming surgery.
Transgender inmate Jonathan C. Richardson, also known as Autumn Cordellione, admitted killing “the little damn bitch” after he was arrested for strangling his 11-month-old stepdaughter. Richardson was sentenced to more than five decades in prison.
The lawsuit follows a new law passed this summer during the 2023 legislative session that prohibits the Indiana Department of Corrections from providing gender-affirming medical care to incarcerated transgender people.
However, the ACLU claims the new law is a violation of the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment, Fox News reported.
On August 28, the organization filed the lawsuit, claiming that Richardson’s transfer surgery was “a medical necessity.”
Richardson’s case is not the first sex reassignment surgery for an inmate. In Minnesota, a transgender inmate won her case against the DOC, received $495,000 for gender reassignment surgery, and was then transferred to a women’s facility.
Transgender inmate Jonathan C. Richardson, also known as Autumn Cordellione, was convicted in 2001 in the fatal strangulation of his 11-month-old stepdaughter
The American Civil Liberties Union has sued the state of Indiana for refusing to spend taxpayer money on a transgender inmate’s gender reassignment surgery
A protester holds up the ACLU ‘Trans People Belong’ placard
Richardson was found guilty in September 2001 of strangling his 11-month-old stepdaughter to death. Richardson was left in charge of his stepdaughter while the victim’s mother was away during the day.
The killer initially told police that he found the victim in a cot and her vomit was coming out of her mouth. Richardson later admitted she was picky and he had tried to calm her down.
The little girl was found to have died from manual strangulation.
While the sick man was behind bars, Richardson told a correctional officer, “All I know is I killed the damn little bitch.”
In 2002, Richardson was sentenced to 55 years in prison.
Indiana’s anti-trans care law passed this summer and proponents claim it would save the state money. Sen. Stacey Donato (R-Logansport) supported the plan, describing the treatment as “unproven, irreversible and life-changing,” according to The Times of Northwest Indiana.
The ACLU stated that medical care for transgender patients has been deemed necessary and even life-saving by all reputable medical organizations.
The organization said courts have consistently found that people with gender dysphoria cannot simply be denied care.
The Indiana DOC was also cited in the lawsuit as violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
“The DOC cannot deny necessary treatment to incarcerated people simply because they are transgender.” “Doing that is a form of discrimination,” said Ken Falk, legal director of the ACLU of Indiana.
“Gender-inclusive care is life-saving care. If lawmakers can arbitrarily deny one form of health care, they might as well deny other life-saving treatments to incarcerated people.”
Richardson, who is currently being held at the Branchville Correctional Facility, was identified as female because Richardson – who now uses “she” pronouns – was 6 years old, the lawsuit says.
Richardson is currently being held at the Branchville Correctional Facility and has identified as female since she was 6 years old, the lawsuit says
In early 2020, she was diagnosed with gender dysphoria by doctors at the DOC. As a result, she suffered from depression and anxiety caused by her gender dysphoria and the realization that she is a woman trapped in a man’s body, the lawsuit says.
“She self-harmed and attempted suicide because she could not tolerate the fact that her gender at birth did not match the fact that she was a woman and could not tolerate her male body,” the lawsuit says.
Richardson began taking hormones to alter her body and make it more feminine, even though she was in a men’s prison. The lawsuit alleged that she requested gender-specific items and was allowed to receive bars, panties, makeup and form-fitting clothing.
“Despite hormone therapy, she continues to experience severe negative symptoms of gender dysphoria. “Her genitals in particular continue to be a source of extreme and ongoing suffering that is only getting worse,” the lawsuit states.
“Just the sight of her genitals causes her a lot of anxiety. “She preferred to get dirty rather than go to the toilet because the sight of her genitals caused her so much stress.”
Ken Falk (pictured right), legal director of the ACLU of Indiana, said: “The DOC cannot deny necessary treatment to incarcerated people simply because they are transgender.” “Doing so is a form of discrimination.”
The lawsuit is the fifth lawsuit the ACLU of Indiana has filed against legislation passed during the 2023 session.
The state has not yet responded to the latest lawsuit filed this week.
Katie Blair, director of advocacy and public policy for the ACLU of Indiana, said, “Some lawmakers in Indiana are introducing increasingly radical plans, often fueled by misinformation and extremists outside the state.”
She added, “These legislators not only ignore the values of their constituents, they often ignore legal precedent and choose to pass laws that blatantly violate Hoosiers’ protected rights.”
“It is not uncommon for us to file one or two lawsuits at the end of each legislative session, but the number of lawsuits we have had to file due to harmful laws passed during the 2023 legislative session is particularly alarming.”
Christina Lusk, 56, filed a lawsuit against the state Department of Corrections seeking $50,000 in financial compensation for being sent to the men’s prison and being denied gender-affirming surgery
Earlier this year, Minnesota settled a lawsuit involving a transgender inmate at a cost of nearly $500,000.
The settlement also called for Christina Lusk, 56, to receive a vaginal tightening and be sent to an all-female facility after she alleged sexual and verbal abuse at a men’s prison.
Lusk, who is legally recognized as a woman, came out as transgender 14 years ago, began hormone therapy and changed her name in 2018. The following year, she pleaded guilty to a drug possession charge.
The settlement also promises that Lusk — who was formerly known as Craig — will receive additional gender-inclusive health care and will strengthen his policies to protect transgender inmates.
“This journey has been extremely challenging and I have endured so much.” I hope no one has to go through the same circumstances. I relied on my faith and never gave up hope. “I can truly say that I am a strong, proud transgender woman and my name is Christina Lusk,” she said in a statement.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections agreed to settle Christina Lusk’s case for $495,000 after she was placed in an all-male facility where she was allegedly verbally and sexually abused by other prisoners
However, Lusk’s ex-wife objected to the action, telling that the inmate was a “fraud” and a “big, fat liar.”
“I think with all of these things he (Lusk) is trying to get away from doing all the time in prison,” she said.
“He would tell his family that if he was a woman and had breasts they would have to put him in a women’s prison.”
“He said he was going to make sure he made money from the whole ordeal, he said ‘I’m going to become a woman and complain to make sure they give me money and change me.’
“He didn’t do anything like that when we were married, nor did he do anything like that after we got divorced.” I think he’s a big, fat liar.
“I spoke to his family after our divorce and they said it was a big deal to get out of prison and get some money.”
“When I saw it on the news, I told my family before they published his name that this is what Craig was doing – trying to scam people to get money.”