When discussing transgender, most of the words in the various clinical labels that have been created to explain the transgender experience (as if there was such a thing) are “unhappy”. For example, there’s no sentence where the word Dysphoria is used in a positive conext (if you put the word Gender next to it – as in Gender Dysphoria – the term sounds particularly onerous). Syndrome is another unhappy word – some flavors of transgender are sometimes referred to as Transsexual Syndrome, or Harry Benhamin Syndrome. Disorder is perhaps the most unhappy word, as in “Gender Identity Disorder” (or GID for short). GID is the term given to the mental illness of transgender in the DSM IV, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, used worldwide as a comprehensive list of mental pathologies.
The problem that we, as a community, face is that the classification of gender variance as a mental illness in Western cultures since the early 1900’s continues to cast a stigma of sickness, illness, mental instability, moral weakness, or other abnormaility on us simply for feeling as we do. Although we’ve come light years in understanding ourselves and in demonstrating that we can life happy, fulfilling lives there’s a segment of our society that wants to continue to pathologize us through these outdated clinical labels.
A significant number of us strongly believe that GID needs to be removed or considerably re-classified in the next incarnation of the DSM (the DSM-V is slated for release in 2011, with early drafts to be released next year). Homosexuality followed a similar path to being removed
- 1952: The original Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) listed homosexuality as a sociopathic personality disturbance (all of those are unhappy words).
- 1968: DSM II removed homosexuality from the sociopathic list, and re-categorized it with other sexual deviations.
- 1973: In DSM III, homosexuality was considered a problem only when it was dissatisfying to the person. When the person was comfortable with their homosexual thoughts, feelings and behavior, their homosexuality was not considered pathological.
The reason that this is pertinent today is that the names of people who will be considering these revisions was recently released. Several of the key players are people who have long records of pathologizing us. Rather than explain it all here, Mercedes Allen has an excellent overview on Bilerico appropriately titled “Uh-oh”
The short version, from Lynn Conway’s website:
5-03-08: American Psychiatric Association Press Release (of 5-01-08): “APA Names DSM-V Work Group Members – Experts to Revise Manual for Diagnosis of Mental Disorders”. Ken Zucker, who heads a reparatist clinic for gender-variant youth in Toronto, was named as Chair of the Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Work Group for DSM Revision. Ray Blanchard, widely known for pronouncing that transitioned women are “men without penises”, was appointed as a member of that Work Group. Any bets on how this is going to turn out?
This can’t be good. I expect we’ll be hearing quite a bit more about this in upcoming months.
On a different note, I weighed Maggie today. Actually, I weighed myself (something I hate doing) without dog, and then again with dog. Just under two weeks ago she weighed a teeny 6 pounds 7 ounces. As of today she’s 11 pounds. Her appetite is healthy, and although I feed her 3 times a day I’m sure she’d eat 10 times a day if I let her. Two of my favorite times with her are when she first wakes up and is still all foggy (she makes the cutest sounds) and when I get home to see her after being gone for a while (she’s very glad to see me).
The primaries in North Carolina and Indiana are happening. As I watch CNN they have already given NC to Sen. Obama by a hugely wide margin, and Sen Clinton is leading in Indiana (54%/46%) . They’re talking about Sen. Obama’s overwhelming lead in delegates and how Sen. Clinton will be pushing to somehow make Florida and Michigan count. One analyst just said, “It’s like when you’re losing you add a 10th inning or a 5th quarter – you can’t change the rules in the middle”. It’s fascinating stuff….
Lastly for tonight, there’s an article in the Southern Voice this evening titled “HRC president apologizes for ‘misspeaking’ at transgender conference“. I don’t have anything much to say about it because, frankly, it’s immaterial to me. Those who hate HRC will trash it – it will spawn another rash of anti-HRC stuff. Those who support them will be quiet because it’s safer that way. The apology I’m looking for from Joe is about something different, and if and when I get the closure I’m looking for you’ll probably be able to tell. Actually, I probably won’t share it here. I’ll leave it at that.
Headlines are, by nature, sensational. The bigger news, and what the headline should have said, is ”Joe S. engages in frank discussion with local transgender leaders” or something like that. I’ve said for a long time that the thing that has been missing has been anything resembling honest, constructive communication. Jamie Roberts, who I know and respect said:
“At least they’re concerned enough to meet with us,” she said. “And I give [Joe] credit for that.”
I hope it continues. None of us can change the past. We won’t all agree on the future. The most constructive thing we can do is find common ground based on today, and to move forward.
Glad you talked about the new controversy with Zucker and Blanchard being named to the workgroup for the DSM V revision. Yes, this cannot be good because of the possibility of continued stigmatization in the way transsexuals are treated by the mental health community who rely on the DSM for diagnosis.
However, I choose to minimize its significance with my own personal transition path because I refuse to be labeled dysphoric or suffering from a disorder. I like to say I’m not dysphoric, I’m perfectly fine with who I am. It’s those few people around me who are uncomfortable standing next to a transsexual who are dysphoric and experience discomfort.
Call it GID or whatever you want, changing(in a positive way) how we are viewed by the APA, will help in dealing w/ those who want us excluded from ENDA & hate crimes legislation. Trying to get the people who are on the list who will not further this goal removed should be a priorety. Did you ever see a tharipist who would agree w/ needing positive change? If so inlist that persons help to fix this….Karen
[...] at state from an transgender/intersexual perspective, I’d recommend Donna Rose’s GID, DSM, HRC, and more: A cornucopia of TLA’s, and Zoe Brain’s Transsexual Causation, the American Psychiatric Association, and [...]
“Those who hate HRC will trash it – it will spawn another rash of anti-HRC stuff. Those who support them will be quiet because it’s safer that way.”
That is an either/or mentality which is a form of oppression.
How sad…
If HRC insists on continuing to characterize it as “hating” them, instead of what it truly is — mistrust, we may as well go ahead and self-fulfill their prophecy for them.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter who they individually make peace with, or how hard they try to create this two-caste, insider/outside throng classism. Until they make good by the entire community, nothing they do will ever help them salvage their image for posterity. And the more they propagandize, the more we’ll repay in kind.
Hi Donna,
This note’s a long, long time in coming. I should have tried connecting with you at least within the last year, as I began to transition etc. Anyway, I just want to thank you for all the work you do in keeping us well-informed on the political end of things, as well as being an incredible woman who continues to shine as an example, especially to me.
Sincerely and with much respect.
Marlo
[...] good reads are her GID, DSM, HRC, and more: A cornucopia of TLA’s, and Zoe Brain’s Transsexual Causation, the American Psychiatric Association, and [...]
First off hello to you and the readers..wow the template is gorgeous , and wordpress format rocks. My first time here, anyhow gonna blog roll you , and thank you this most excellent post. Together the effort is great, our allies and care providers, our selves. We will impact this working group, now divided into three. Got a gut feeling , as evidenced by the petitioon some of the comments were from outstanding and “OUT” providers. If anyone does not know about the petition shameless plug, got it at the bottom of the top post…its collected over 2000 sigs already and the goal was 500, yep.
anyhow , our discussions on forums, and networking is all helping – thank yours and ethan’s and the untold others , working so diligently for us. Thank you ALL ! Each voice , each act and there is none to small of activism is helping our cause on many fronts.
just feeling the love and committment so here is a group HUG !
Hate is not a family value, and we are family , those who continue to work with the HRC need our respect and support, as long as they do not purposely pick someone controversial and clueless, that does not preclude every other bit of work being done. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force for example leds office space to the NCTE, my extra dollars will never go to the HRC and as a political pack that understands only money and insider politics – hey its like changing the channel – not gonna spend time hating on em , no body – a boycott of non participation completely not well advised imHO. s’ok …but where will the T money go ? absolutely to the NGLTF and the NCTE. And unless purposely clueless, faulting the TS/TG person unless they are clueless and therefore especially vulnerable to being a TOKEN, is a waste of good energy – its not a zero sum game.