WPATH Releases New Standards of Care

The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) released an updated Stanards of Care (SOC) Sunday.  It is the seventh edition, and the first since 2001.  "Overall," reports Kellie Winters of GID Reform Advocates, "this newest SOC represents significant forward progress in respecting trans people and affirming the necessity of medical transition care for trans and transsexual individuals who need it."

Significantly, the SOC denounces gender-conversion therapies as unethical.  "“Treatment aimed at trying to change a person’s gender identity and lived gender expression to become more congruent with sex assigned at birth has been attempted in the past ... Such treatment is no longer considered ethical.” (SOC, p 16).  This is truly good news: psychologists have considered reparative therapies unethical for homosexual men and women for decades, but have maintained a double standard in the case of the transgendered.  This can only help further the de-pathologization of trans folk.  Along those lines, it also replaces the language of "disorder" with "dysphoria," and removes some of the barriers for the care of trans people. 

News You (might be able to) Use (9/14/2011)

Is it just me, or is the rate of violence against trans-people on the rise?   I sincerely hope not, but it sure looks like it.  Diana, over at her little Corner of the Nutmeg State, reports that "Washington DC is becoming a place of death for us," and tells us about the third group of assaults on transwomen this summer in that city.

Meanwhile, the most high-profile case has been resolved.  Sort of:  the teen who pleased guilty to beating a transwoman in a Rosedale, MD McDonalds was sentenced to five years in prison, plus three of supervised probation.  The maximum sentence for such a crime is 35 years, but the 19-year-old woman had no previous record, and tearfully apologized in court.