I'll agree with Melissa that it is a poor article and not up to Ms. Dowd's usual caliber of writing.  The segue to Renee Richards is wrenching and the two are never really tied together.  The whole article misses the opportunity to make a point with impact.  It seems like Ms. Dowd's article about Chrissy was short of her contractual word count for the day and she was grasping for filler and lost her way by the time she got to the required length.  

I do think Ms. Dowd got the point across that it is a shame that Maryland's Senate failed to pass legislation extending antidiscrimination protection to transgendered people.  However, she missed the chance to make the point that it is a shame that such a specific law was even necessary.  Aren't we supposed to be the country that supports these basic human rights and equality for all?  What is most missing from this article is the outrage that we should all feel when we see a fellow human being treated in such a callaous way by such animals.