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The American Psychiatric Association, RadFems and Fundies

Cristan

Houston, we have a problem. Or, I should say that RadFems and Fundies have a problem on their hands. You might have missed it, but the American Psychiatric Association published their position on “transgender and gender variant” people this week… And their position is problematic to the beloved narrative and traditional goals favored by RadFems and Fundies:

Long-standing medical and psychiatric literature demonstrates clear benefits of medical and surgical interventions to assist gender variant individuals seeking transition. However, transgender and gender variant people are frequently denied medical, surgical, and psychiatric care related to gender transition. Access to medical care (both medical and surgical) positively impacts the mental health of transgender and gender variant individuals.

Being transgender or gender variant implies no impairment in judgment, stability, reliability, or general social or vocational capabilities; however, these individuals often experience discrimination due to a lack of civil rights protections for their gender identity or expression. Transgender and gender variant persons are frequently harassed and discriminated against when seeking housing or applying to jobs or schools, are often victims of violent hate crimes, and face challenges in marriage, adoption and parenting rights.

Discrimination and lack of equal civil rights is damaging to the mental health of transgender and gender variant individuals. For example, gender-based discrimination and victimization were found to be independently associated with attempted suicide in a population of transgender individuals, 32% of whom had histories of trying to kill themselves, and in the largest survey to date of gender variant and transgender people 41% reported attempting suicide.*

The APA joins other organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association, in endorsing strong policy statements deploring the discrimination experienced by gender variant and transgender individuals and calling for laws to protect their civil rights.

As if that’s not bad enough, they make their position crystal clear in the following enumerated points:

The American Psychiatric Association:

  1. Recognizes that appropriately evaluated transgender and gender variant individuals can benefit greatly from medical and surgical gender transition treatments.
  2. Advocates for removal of barriers to care and supports both public and private health insurance coverage for gender transition treatment.
  3. Opposes categorical exclusions of coverage for such medically necessary treatment when prescribed by a physician.

The American Psychiatric Association:

  1. Supports laws that protect the civil rights of transgender and gender variant individuals.
  2. Urges the repeal of laws and policies that discriminate against transgender and gender variant people.
  3. Opposes all public and private discrimination against transgender and gender variant individuals in such areas as health care, employment, housing, public accommodation, education, and licensing.
  4. Declares that no burden of proof of such judgment, capacity, or reliability shall be placed upon these individuals greater than that imposed on any other persons.

It’s now officially out of step with what is what is known about mental well-being to look upon trans folk with suspicion and contempt when we use the bathroom, buy clothing and just try to live our fucking lives. Furthermore, the actions of RedFems and Fundies are being recognized for what they are: real and measurable violence:

Discrimination and lack of equal civil rights is damaging to the mental health of transgender and gender variant individuals. For example, gender-based discrimination and victimization were found to be independently associated with attempted suicide in a population of transgender individuals, 32% of whom had histories of trying to kill themselves, and in the largest survey to date of gender variant and transgender people 41% reported attempting suicide.

As it turns out, when RadFems worked to prevent trans folk from accessing medical care, they were supporting real and measurable violence against trans folk.

When RadFems and religious fundies team up to spread the tranny bathroom meme to any and all gulible enough to listen, they are supporting real and measurable violence against trans folk.

When RadFems tried to have trans protections removed at the UN, they were supporting real and measurable violence against trans folk.

When RadFems tried to prevent trans women from accessing counseling services at the Lesbian Resource Center, they were supporting the real and measurable violence which claimed Filisa Vistima’s life.

… their arrogance and oppressiveness is amazing. It is funny though that they are so used to Feminists immediately bowing before them that they don’t know how to deal with that we don’t care what happens to them. They expect we’ll be shocked to see statistics about them being killed, and don’t realize, some of us wish they would ALL be dead. – BevJo, RadFem leader

RadFems/Fundies are objectively mistaken about what constitutes acting in accord with what is known about psychological well-being and worse, in their obdurate hubris they visit cruelty, misery and death upon thousands.

RadFem opinion leader and attorney Catherine (Cathy) Brennan, Partner at Hudson Cook LLP
RadFem opinion leader and attorney Catherine (Cathy) Brennan, Partner at Hudson Cook LLP
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