The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia —
or IDAHO —
commemorates the day homosexuality was declassified as a mental illness
Negative stigma surrounding LGBTQ people continue to thrive —
It's unnatural
You think being gay is a choice?
Absolutely
I don't even think they were born gay
I think they’re just angry at their fathers
— but many see declassification as a huge step forward
So are there other things we should declassify?
The answer may surprise you
But probably not
Even though homosexuality was declassified as a mental illness in 1990,
being transgender still carries psychiatric baggage
According to the American Psychiatric Association,
being transgender isn’t a mental disorder,
but the distressful psychological effects of being transgender are
Huh?
In 2012, in an effort to destigmatize the trans community,
the APA changed “gender identity disorder”
to "gender dysphoria"
It seemed like a step in the right direction,
but if you turn to the front page,
it still says “MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS” in all caps —
so still a little bit of stigma
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization still defines “transsexualism”
as a “gender identity disorder"
Another disorder they list is “dual-role transvestism,”
a euphemism for cross-dressing
It also places S&M in the same category as pedophilia and necrophilia
WHO?
More like,
what?!
Apparently it takes time to change international classification systems,
but some countries are tired of waiting
Denmark will soon become the first country to declassify being transgender as a mental illness
Thanks Eddie Redmayne!
You did it!
Despite this, some argue the lingering classification could actually benefit trans people
A diagnosis could lead to health care benefits,
like hormone therapy or gender reassignment surgery,
which are otherwise hard to come by
For others, being diagnosed with a “mental disorder” could mean losing a custody battle
or having your state lock you out of a bathroom
But what crazy, mean state would do that?
That one
The pros and cons of classification are complicated,
but treating trans people with respect
is a pretty simple idea
That's why we have Idaho
Nope, not that Idaho
Yep, that IDAHO
This is your Mic Check
