Balancing Views on Gender Diversity in the DSM-V Process

[Natasha]

Balancing Views on Gender Diversity in the DSM-V Process

http://www.bilerico.com/2008/10/balancing_views_on_gender_diversity_in_t.php
10/02/2008

The current diagnostic categories of Gender Identity Disorder (GID) and Transvestic Fetishism (TF) have long raised concern within the transgender community. Those who are distressed by their physical sex characteristics or ascribed social gender roles often need access to medically necessary transition care, and these procedures require diagnostic coding that is congruent with the treatment. At the same time, this nomenclature should respect the gender identity and expression of gender variant children, adolescents and adults and not impose stigma of mental illness or sexual deviance on femininity, masculinity or gender variance in themselves.