Word of the Gay: "Lovemap"

A "lovemap" is a psychological concept allowing a person to picture a mental template to describe their idealized lovers gender, sexuality, physical and personal attributes.

Urge the APA to have More Trans-Affirming Representatives

GID Reform is urging professionals to contact the American Psychiatric Association. "There have been numerous criticisms in the professional literature and popular press that researchers and practitioners who are affirming of gender diversity and gender-variant people are under-represented in the current work group. It is essential that the APA recognize this limitation and open up the Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Work Group to include other professionals representing broader clinical and research perspectives. Therefore, we ask trans-affirming professionals and clinicians to write the APA with specific recommendations for nomination to the Sexual and GID Work Group and advisory committee."

DSM-V Contact Information for the American Psychiatric Association

Online E-suggestion form for APA

We suggest mailing two signed letters on your letterhead to the DSM-V Task Force and Work Group Chairs at the following addresses:

David J. Kupfer, M.D., Chair, DSM-V Task Force
and Darrel A. Regier, M.D.,Vice Chair, DSM-V Task Force
in care of William E. Narrow, M.D., Research Director, DSM-V Task Force
American Psychiatric Association
1000 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 1825
Arlington, VA 22209

Kenneth J. Zucker, Ph.D.,
Chair, Sexual and GID Work Group, DSM-V Task Force
Child, Youth and Family Program
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
250 College Street
Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R8

http://professionals.gidreform.org/index.html

Word of the Gay: "Innate Bisexuality"

"Innate Bisexuality" is a term coined by renowned psychiatrist Sigmund Freud that argues that everyone is born bisexual and through life evolve towards one sexuality ie: straight or gay. He goes on to argue that everyone demonstrates some form of latent bisexuality.

APA will Tackle Gender Identity for DSM -V

The American Psychiatric Association is currently in the process of putting out their new Diagnostic Statistical Manual which deals with all aspects of psychiatric disorders and issues. Currently transgender people are unfairly labeled as having "Gender Identity Disorder" even though the research goes to show that this is not a disorder but yet a variation of the human condition.

UPDATE: There is more information about who will be on the panel over at Trans News

Please contact the APA about this and demand trans-friendly and LGBT friendly individuals be put on the panel discussing Gender Identity.

Call Toll-Free: 1-888-35-PSYCH

Click here to email officials at the APA

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The APA has now set up a group of so called "experts" to deal with addressing this issue and others in the world of psychology.
APA Press Release

Good news? Not so much.

Apparently one of the people on the committee has been quoted as saying "This is not waving a magic wand and a man becomes a woman and vice versa," he says. "It's something that has to be taken very seriously. A man without a penis has certain disadvantages in this world, and this is in reality what you're creating.

-Ray Blanchard, Ph.D

Is this the kind of sensitivity and expertise we want addressing trans issues?

Head on over to GID Reform Advocates an organization dedicated to reforming the classification of trans people as being mentally ill.