I am so behind on posting this, but it needs to be posted. My apologies for missing the boat (but you can still do stuff about it, so don’t ignore it).
I’ve been discussing this with friends (hence, why I forgot to post it – thanks to my friend for forwarding the info below to me!), and it’s really angered me. I think about how far we’ve had to drag the APA in the last 50 years, getting them to take homosexuality out of the DSM, etc, and for them to then put someone who believes that homosexuality IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE CURED on the committee to discuss Gender Identity Disorder and the DSM? Um, hi, WTF mate?
Now, I’m not 100% sure on where I stand about keeping GID in the DSM vs. removing it completely. Shocking, I know. But I have reasoning behind this (some of which was discussed in my Clinical Issues in the Transgender Community class). While I don’t think that GID should be seen as a mental illness (and I do understand that having it as such can lead to all sorts of problems getting insurance coverage later on in life), having it as something that can be diagnosed opens up many doors for some transpeople as regards to insurance. Some insurances will pay for hormones if a client is diagnosed; others won’t continue to even pay for therapy sessions unless a client is diagnosed with a mental illness (such as, oh say, GID). So I don’t think it should be a mental illness, but I also don’t want people to lose insurance benefits because it is removed. I think maybe they should make a special subsection? For things that don’t need to be cured, but still need medical attention (therapy) and support from insurance companies. Yeah, I know that will never happen, but that’s my solution.
Anyways, regardless, having read a bit of his work (K has my book with him in it right now, but I’ll post the name of it when I figure it out…), I think he’s an asshat. In a major way. He believes in reparative therapy for homosexuality (and GID), and is really just a pompous idiot (in my own humble opinion, of course). And the APA has appointed him to head the committee on inclusion or exclusion of GID in the newest version of the DSM. Um, hi, WHAT THE FUCK? Worst idea EVAH. He’ll probably try to het homosexuality put back in!
Below is info a) on his appointment, and b) what you can do to take a stand. Please, be an ally, a SOFFA (not the comfy kind…unless, as a person, you are comfy), a member of the community (any community for that matter), and speak your mind. Once a decision is made by this committee, it may take decades to change it; let’s do what we can to make sure it is done ethically, and with the best interest of the trans community. Do what you can, and please please please repost!
That’s all. *steps off soapbox* Have a rocking weekend!
-Essin’ Em
Significant and potentially damaging change has recently taken place within the American Psychiatric Association (APA.)
A few days ago the American Psychiatric Association announced the name of a new member of the DSM-V Task Force. The DSM (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) lists diagnostic criteria for mental disorders, including Gender Identity Disorder (homosexuality was removed in 1974). The APA appointed Dr. Kenneth Zucker to chair the Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Work Group, despite his history of advocating that queer and trans people (especially youth) can be “cured” through reparative therapy. In short, Dr. Zucker believes he can “turn” LGB people straight, and “help” transmen & women remain in the gender they were assigned at birth.
The disturbing significance of this appointment cannot be overstated.
So what can we do about it?
1) Sign a petition objecting the APA’s appointment of Kenneth Zucker. You can find that petition here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/objection-to-dsm-v-committee-members-on-gender-identity-disorders
2) Email the APA at dsm@psych.org to let them know that Dr. Zucker’s appointment is not just a mistake, but could lead to long-term, negative consequences for the LGBT mental health community.
3) Talk to mental health providers, as well as your family and friends; spread the word!
