Idaho ordered to start hormone therapy for inmate

BOISE – An Idaho inmate who castrated herself after prison officials refused to give her female hormone therapy may have lied about her lifestyle before imprisonment, but the state still must give her estrogen, a federal judge ruled.

Jenniffer Spencer, who was born biologically male but identifies as a woman, sued the Idaho Department of Correction and its physicians claiming that her constitutional rights were violated and that she was subjected to cruel and unusual punishment when prison doctors failed to diagnose gender identity disorder and treat her with female hormones. Spencer legally changed her name from Randall Gammett while in prison.

Spencer sued the state, and in July U.S. District Judge Mikel Williams ordered the Idaho Department of Correction to provide Spencer with estrogen until the matter went to trial. But the state asked the judge to reconsider, saying that new evidence showed Spencer lied about having lived as a woman and about taking female hormones before going to prison.

Williams said those issues could be dealt with at trial – and that for now, the state must give Spencer estrogen.

“The main theme set forth in the ‘new’ evidence submitted by defendants is that plaintiff’s self-reported history of attempting to live like a female cannot be substantiated,” Williams wrote.

Nevertheless, Williams said, that evidence does not change the fact that untreated gender identity disorder is “a life-threatening mental health condition” since Spencer has already engaged in self-mutilation and suicide attempts.

“The court’s order for treatment was based on numerous factors and took into account that plaintiff has a history of lying, manipulating and attention-seeking,” Williams wrote. “Defendants will be able to use the evidence of plaintiff’s alleged fabrications at the trial.”

While in prison, Spencer cut off her testicles with a disposable razor blade in an apparent effort to rid her body of testosterone. Spencer survived the self-castration, and doctors prescribed testosterone replacement therapy – refusing the estrogen that Spencer wanted.

The judge ordered the state to begin providing Spencer with the female hormones and psychotherapy by Sept. 17.

Spencer is serving time for a 2000 conviction of possession of a stolen car and escape. She is expected to be released in two years.