Comments on: Sign a Petition to Protest Bigots Heading Committees to Rewrite DSM-V Psychiatric Definitions http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/ Feminist, anti-racist, pro-fat, plus whatever else we feel like talking about. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:46:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Roberta http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333869 Roberta Fri, 23 May 2008 12:53:30 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333869 Thene, that's totally true. And glt, that quote was so ugly to me on so many levels. Because everything about ourselves is about normalcy and popularity, right? Thene, that’s totally true.
And glt, that quote was so ugly to me on so many levels. Because everything about ourselves is about normalcy and popularity, right?

]]> By: glt http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333865 glt Fri, 23 May 2008 11:00:43 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333865 <blockquote>Boys would find his feminine interests unappealing. Girls would want more boyish boys. Bradley would be an outcast.</blockquote> But I'm a girl and I want more girlish boys! Stupid conformity!

Boys would find his feminine interests unappealing. Girls would want more boyish boys. Bradley would be an outcast.

But I’m a girl and I want more girlish boys! Stupid conformity!

]]> By: Thene http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333834 Thene Thu, 22 May 2008 20:30:42 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333834 Roberta - one problem here is that many transfolk benefit from medical recognition of the 'disease state'. To some - especially noho/no-op folk - it's detrimental that doctors are (in the UK, at least) positioned as gatekeepers to legal rights. To others, it's of benefit that doctors can make a GID diagnosis, prescribe hormones & other treatments that are paid for like normal medical treatments (eg. free in the UK, by insurers in the US) if so desired, and give someone's real gender recognition and medical support. Roberta - one problem here is that many transfolk benefit from medical recognition of the ‘disease state’. To some - especially noho/no-op folk - it’s detrimental that doctors are (in the UK, at least) positioned as gatekeepers to legal rights. To others, it’s of benefit that doctors can make a GID diagnosis, prescribe hormones & other treatments that are paid for like normal medical treatments (eg. free in the UK, by insurers in the US) if so desired, and give someone’s real gender recognition and medical support.

]]> By: Roberta http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333815 Roberta Thu, 22 May 2008 14:44:48 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333815 I signed. I included this comment: <i>For me this is an argument of conjecture. Where is the science proving that these are medical disorders? Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. But to classify things such as disease states without solid scientific backing is, at the very least, archaic. </i> Which was my way of dancing around, because it's a good argument but I hardly even have the medical terminology right. It's not, of course, the argument I care about. But I couldn't very well write <i>This is utter bullshit, you motherfucking fear-based fag-bashing bullies</i>, now could I? I signed. I included this comment:

For me this is an argument of conjecture. Where is the science proving that these are medical disorders? Maybe they are, maybe they aren’t. But to classify things such as disease states without solid scientific backing is, at the very least, archaic.

Which was my way of dancing around, because it’s a good argument but I hardly even have the medical terminology right.

It’s not, of course, the argument I care about. But I couldn’t very well write This is utter bullshit, you motherfucking fear-based fag-bashing bullies, now could I?

]]> By: Bjartmarr http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333795 Bjartmarr Thu, 22 May 2008 03:39:06 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333795 I heard the NPR report on the radio while driving home the other day. I had to pull over and hit things for a little while before I felt safe to drive again. What absolutely floored me was that the parents didn't catch a clue when their kid STOPPED PLAYING. Newsflash: if your kid is playing happily along, and you do something that causes them to stop playing, then whatever you did is wrong. Now that I'm calmer, I realize that the other thing that really bugged me about the report was that the reporter, who is presumably an intelligent adult, didn't seem to express any dismay or outrage at the treatment Bradley was getting. I realize the value of neutral POV reporting, but reporters are supposed to be critical as well. By presenting both approaches noncritically, without addressing the borderline abuse that Bradley was subjected to, she lent Zucker's approach an air of credibility which it did not deserve. I heard the NPR report on the radio while driving home the other day. I had to pull over and hit things for a little while before I felt safe to drive again. What absolutely floored me was that the parents didn’t catch a clue when their kid STOPPED PLAYING. Newsflash: if your kid is playing happily along, and you do something that causes them to stop playing, then whatever you did is wrong.

Now that I’m calmer, I realize that the other thing that really bugged me about the report was that the reporter, who is presumably an intelligent adult, didn’t seem to express any dismay or outrage at the treatment Bradley was getting. I realize the value of neutral POV reporting, but reporters are supposed to be critical as well. By presenting both approaches noncritically, without addressing the borderline abuse that Bradley was subjected to, she lent Zucker’s approach an air of credibility which it did not deserve.

]]> By: lori http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333765 lori Wed, 21 May 2008 21:15:32 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333765 I also signed. I've raised a transgender child into a male-identifying adult. This approach to gender identity and expression is just wrong. I also signed. I’ve raised a transgender child into a male-identifying adult. This approach to gender identity and expression is just wrong.

]]> By: Dianne http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333741 Dianne Wed, 21 May 2008 16:03:49 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333741 Ok, I just signed, with my full set of titles and comment in complete medicalese. Just to try to point out that medical professionals have noticed that Zucker's a quack at best. Ok, I just signed, with my full set of titles and comment in complete medicalese. Just to try to point out that medical professionals have noticed that Zucker’s a quack at best.

]]> By: Mike http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333740 Mike Wed, 21 May 2008 15:55:55 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333740 Makes you wish Evelyn Hooker were still alive, doesn't it? Makes you wish Evelyn Hooker were still alive, doesn’t it?

]]> By: Eva http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333729 Eva Wed, 21 May 2008 14:39:12 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333729 The story about Zucker's treatment of the transgirl is a story of soul murder. It makes me feel just awful, and scared, for children who are probably being treated this way right now. You bet I signed the petition. I'm also confounded about the paraphilia. Since when does being turned on by imagining oneself as the opposite sex harmful to oneself or anyone else? Does this Zucker person (and his cohorts) not have anything better to do than create pathology where there isn't any??? The story about Zucker’s treatment of the transgirl is a story of soul murder.

It makes me feel just awful, and scared, for children who are probably being treated this way right now. You bet I signed the petition.

I’m also confounded about the paraphilia. Since when does being turned on by imagining oneself as the opposite sex harmful to oneself or anyone else? Does this Zucker person (and his cohorts) not have anything better to do than create pathology where there isn’t any???

]]> By: lilacsigil http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333718 lilacsigil Wed, 21 May 2008 12:48:29 +0000 http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2008/05/21/sign-a-petition-to-protest-transphobes-heading-committees-to-rewrite-dsm-v-psychiatric-definitions/#comment-333718 I couldn't see a link in your post (though it is late at night and I'm not at my best) but found it via googling. I said this: As a little girl, I chose to dress as a boy for a few years. This was completely irrelevant to my adult life (as a woman), and I am glad that my parents (unlike the people mentioned here) did not pathologise this choice and try to "treat" me. I would hope that other people have the chance to have accepting family, rather than fall under the supposed care of Dr Zucker and his allies. I couldn’t see a link in your post (though it is late at night and I’m not at my best) but found it via googling.

I said this: As a little girl, I chose to dress as a boy for a few years. This was completely irrelevant to my adult life (as a woman), and I am glad that my parents (unlike the people mentioned here) did not pathologise this choice and try to “treat” me. I would hope that other people have the chance to have accepting family, rather than fall under the supposed care of Dr Zucker and his allies.

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