Proposed DSM-5 Revision: Gender Dysphoria in Adolescents or Adults »

The proposed next revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines Gender Dysphoria to explicitly allow for identification with ‘some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender’.

However the problematic ‘Transvestic Disorder’ still remains.

practicalandrogyny:

The proposed next revision of the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) replaces ‘Gender Identity Disorder’ with ‘Gender Dysphoria’, requires only two of the following indicators to qualify and explicitly allows for non-binary genders by appending most references to “the other gender” with “or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender”.

The criteria have also been changed to allow non-disordered transgender experiences, much how non-heterosexual sexualities were depathologised in previous revisions.

Gender Dysphoria (in Adolescents or Adults)

A. A marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender, of at least 6 months duration, as manifested by 2 or more of the following indicators: [2, 3, 4]

1. a marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and primary and/or secondary sex characteristics (or, in young adolescents, the anticipated secondary sex characteristics) [13, 16]

2. a strong desire to be rid of one’s primary and/or secondary sex characteristics because of a marked incongruence with one’s experienced/expressed gender (or, in young adolescents, a desire to prevent the development of the anticipated secondary sex characteristics) [17]

3. a strong desire for the primary and/or secondary sex characteristics of the other gender

4. a strong desire to be of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)

5. a strong desire to be treated as the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)

6. a strong conviction that one has the typical feelings and reactions of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)

B. The condition is associated with clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning,  or with a significantly increased risk of suffering, such as distress or disability 

I am pleasantly surprised by how progressive this is! Especially that it allows for non-binary genders and opting out of being considered ‘disordered’ at all by not experiencing distress due to one’s transgender identity or experiences.

Read more or comment on the proposal at the American Psychiatric Association DSM-5 Development site