Sex & Gender

world health org says trans community isn’t mentally ill…duh?

May 31, 2019
80 Picks

Wow. The World Health Organization (WHO) has finally removed “Gender Identity Disorder” from its classification of diseases. More specifically, this means that transgender people will no longer be categorized as having a mental disorder. This decision was approved by the World Health Assembly last week.

In the prior version (ICD-10), to be transgender was considered a gender identity disorder under the chapter for mental and behavioral disorders. This change comes as a way to change the narrative surrounding transgender people and to normalize their experiences. In addition to removing stigma, this will serve as a means to ensure access to necessary health interventions.  

While Human Rights Watch claim this change “will have a liberating affect in transgender people worldwide,” activists say that this is nowhere near perfect.

Countries have until January 2022 to conform to these WHO changes.

Related