New Mass. Law Lets Out-of-State Gay Couples Marry

Fresh off the (Associated Press):

"Gay and lesbian couples from outside Massachusetts are now free to marry in the state.

Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a bill repealing a 1913 law that barred couples from marrying in Massachusetts if their union would not be valid in their own states.

Out-of-state gay couples will be able to marry immediately if a court waives the state's standard three-day waiting period for them.

Opponents had said repealing the law would make Massachusetts the "Las Vegas of gay marriage." But Patrick says the old law had its roots in racism as it was seen as a way of preventing interracial marriages.

The new law includes a provision waiving the customary 90-day waiting period for the change to go into effect."

Hope for Trans Community With New DSM - V?

The APA has released a statement to activists who have emailed and called concerning the APA Diagnostic Statistical Manual. Activists have been very concerned over some people appointed to the committee who are very transphobic and who would likely keep the label "Gender Identity Disorder" even though moden research shows transgender people are just as healthy as everyone else in the population and are NOT disordered! The Gender Identity Disorders task force, is chaired by Peggy T. Cohen Kettenis, Ph.D. who is rumored to be TG friendly.

This being said our work is not done, Dr. Kenneth Zucker head of the entire Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders committee is very transphobic and believes in "reparative therapy" for transgender children.

"APA STATEMENT ON GID AND THE DSM

May 9, 2008

The American Psychiatric Association has received inquiries about the DSM-V process, particularly concerns raised about the Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Work Group.

The APA has a long-standing mission to provide guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, based on the most current clinical and scientific knowledge. Through advocacy and education of the public and policymakers, the APA also affirms it commitment to reducing stigma and discrimination.

The DSM addresses criteria for the diagnosis of mental disorders. The DSM does not provide treatment recommendations or guidelines. The APA is aware of the need for greater scientific and clinical consensus on the best treatments for individuals with Gender Identity Disorder (GID). Toward that end, the APA Board of Trustees voted to create a special APA Task Force to review the scientific and clinical literature on the treatment of GID. It is expected that members of the Task Force will be appointed shortly.

There are 13 DSM-V work groups. Collectively, the work group members will review all existing diagnostic categories in the current DSM. Each work group will be able to make proposals to revise existing diagnostic criteria, to consider new diagnostic categories, and to suggest deleting existing diagnostic categories.

All DSM-V work group proposals will be based on a careful, balanced review and analysis of the best clinical and scientific data. Evidence accumulated from work group members and hundreds of additional advisors to the DSM-V effort will be considered before final recommendations are made.

The Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Work Group, chaired by Kenneth J. Zucker, Ph.D., will have 13 members who will form three subcommittees:

* Gender Identity Disorders, chaired by Peggy T. Cohen-Kettenis, Ph.D.
* Paraphilias, chaired by Ray Blanchard, Ph.D.
* Sexual Dysfunctions, chaired by R. Taylor Segraves, M.D., Ph.D.

Each subcommittee will pursue its own charge, provide ongoing peer review, and consult with outside experts. The DSM-V is expected to be published in 2012."
(This was a response given to Jessica L. off of Susans.org Forums)

GLAAD Issues Call for Action on Associated Press

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has issued a call for action to email the Associated Press over their lack of coverage and mischarcterization of their anti-gay hate crimes media coverage.

"The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is encouraging community members to call upon The Associated Press to provide greater depth and context when covering incidents of bullying and violence directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.

The AP’s latest story on Lawrence King, a 15-year-old student from Oxnard, Calif., who died after he was shot by a classmate in what prosecutors have identified as a premeditated hate crime based on King’s perceived sexual orientation, unfairly assigns blame to King. The story suggests that the openly gay student’s flirting may have provoked the shooting.

“If King had flirted with the other boy, ‘that can be very threatening to someone's ego and their sense of identity,’” said Jaana Juvonen, a psychology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles."

The Associated Press should be condemning these crimes and reporting them accurately and not finding jsutifications for the anti-gay killers or blaming the victim which in this case is Lawrence King.

Please voice your concern by emailing the AP

Greg Risling
News Reporter
grisling@ap.org
213-626-1200

Brian Melley
News Editor
bmelley@ap.org
213-626-1200