Diagnosis vs. Treatment: The Horns of a False Dilemma

[Natasha]

Diagnosis vs. Treatment: The Horns of a False Dilemma

http://gidreform.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/the-horns-of-a-false-dilemma/
7/1/2008

"The transgender community has been divided by fear that we must chose
between access to corrective hormonal and surgical procedures to
support transition and the stigma of mental illness imposed by the
current diagnosis of Gender Identity Disorder(GID)[1] This schism has
allowed little dialogue and no progress on GID reform in nearly three
decades. However, the GID diagnosis has failed our community on both
points. Transsexual individuals are poorly served by a diagnosis that
both stigmatizes us as mentally deficient and sexually deviant and at
the same time undermines the legitimacy of social transition and
medical procedures that are often dismissed as "elective,""cosmetic,"
or as reinforcing mental disorder."

[NicholeW.]

Persuasive and well-wrought, Ms. Winters holds open a door that leads to better and less pathologizing conditions in the reform of thinking and acting on GID.

Nichole 

[joannatsf]

Diagnosis vs. Treatment: The Horns of a False Dilemma

http://gidreform.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/the-horns-of-a-false-dilemma/
7/1/2008

"The transgender community has been divided by fear that we must chose
between access to corrective hormonal and surgical procedures to
support transition and the stigma of mental illness imposed by the
current diagnosis of Gender Identity Disorder(GID)[1] This schism has
allowed little dialogue and no progress on GID reform in nearly three
decades. However, the GID diagnosis has failed our community on both
points. Transsexual individuals are poorly served by a diagnosis that
both stigmatizes us as mentally deficient and sexually deviant and at
the same time undermines the legitimacy of social transition and
medical procedures that are often dismissed as "elective,""cosmetic,"
or as reinforcing mental disorder."

A diagnosis of GID can hurt more than it helps.  Medicare/Medicaid will not pay for ANY treatment, psychiatric or medical, for GID.  A surprising number of TS/TG people are on SSI and receive Medicaid.

[feliciahawthorn]

This is a very powerful commentary. Thanks for sharing Natasha!

Felicia