2/10/10

Trans411: New Transgender Resource for locating Medical and Community Services Worldwide!

Locate a transgender recommended Doctor, Surgeon, Clinic , Psychologist, Therapist, Counselor, Support and community or activity group anywhere worldwide.

The sad truth is that many therapists are actually taking advantage of you, the unprotected uninformed patient, and are only concerned with bring you back for another costly visit.

Trans411 is a user friendly site that allows you instant access to the information that will save you money, and very possibly the heartbreak of becoming drawn into a costly and time consuming process of finding out your current health provider is unqualified or only concerned with their own job preservation.

From the Tran411 website about us:
"Trans411 was created by under-employed trans webheads in San Francisco, California. We feel very lucky to live in a city where we have easy access to so many resources, but we know from experience that in too many places it is difficult for people to find quality and compassionate care. Though 'trans' is included in our title, and our target audience is transgender, transsexual, intersex, genderqueer and other gender non-conforming people we have a feeling our site will be able to serve a variety of constituencies, and acknowledge there is a great deal of diversity in gender identities and beyond."

"We hope that this site allows a wide array of people to share their local knowledge about providers, groups and organizations that serve our community. We've taken a great deal of feedback from our past projects, such as being too United States centric or not including the ability to edit entries, and incorporated these ideas into this site from the get-go."
http://trans411.org/

American Psychiatric Association (APA) DSM-5, USA Proposed Changes


American Psychiatric Association (APA) DSM-5, USA

[2/10/2010]

Gender Identity Disorder in Adolescents or Adults

PROPOSED REVISION

Gender Incongruence (in Adolescents or Adults) [1]

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)

Subtypes

With a disorder of sex development

Without a disorder of sex development

[14, 15, 16, 19]

RATIONALE

For the adult criteria, we propose, on a preliminary basis, the
requirement of only 2 indicators. This is based on a preliminary
secondary data analysis of 154 adolescent and adults patients with GID
compared to 684 controls (Deogracias et al., 2007; Singh et al.,
2010). From a 27-item dimensional measure of gender dysphoria, the
Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire for Adolescents and
Adults (GIDYQ), we extracted five items that correspond to the
proposed A2-A6 indicators (we could not extract a corresponding item
for A1). Each item was rated on a 5-point response scale, ranging from
Never to Always, with the past 12 months as the time frame. For the
current analysis, we coded a symptom as present if the participant
endorsed one of the two most extreme response options (frequently or
always) and as absent if the participant endorsed one of the three
other options (never, rarely, sometimes). This yielded a true positive
rate of 94.2% and a false positive rate of 0.7%. Because the wording
of the items on the GIDYQ is not identical to the wording of the
proposed indicators, further validational work will be required during
field trials.

End notes

1. It is proposed that the name gender identity disorder (GID) be
replaced by “Gender Incongruence” (GI) because the latter is a
descriptive term that better reflects the core of the problem: an
incongruence between, on the one hand, what identity one experiences
and/or expresses and, on the other hand, how one is expected to live
based on one’s assigned gender (usually at birth) (Meyer-Bahlburg,
2009a; Winters, 2005). In a recent survey that we conducted among
consumer organizations for transgendered people (Vance et al., in
press), many very clearly indicated their rejection of the GID term
because, in their view, it contributes to the stigmatization of their
condition.

2. In addition to the proposed name change for the diagnosis (see
Endnote 1), there are 6 substantive proposed changes to the DSM-IV
descriptive and diagnostic material: (a) we have proposed a change in
conceptualization of the defining features by emphasizing the
phenomenon of “gender incongruence” in contrast to cross-gender
identification per se (Meyer-Bahlburg, 2009a); (b) we have proposed a
merging of the A and B clinical indicator criteria in DSM-IV (see
Endnotes 10, 13); (c) for the adolescent/adult criteria, we have
proposed a more detailed and specific set of polythetic indicators
than was the case in DSM-IV (Cohen-Kettenis & Pfäfflin, 2009; Zucker,
2006); (d) for the child criteria, we have proposed that the A1
indicator be necessary (but not sufficient) for the diagnosis of GI
(see Endnote 5); (e) we have proposed that the “distress/impairment”
criterion not be a prerequisite for the diagnosis of GI (see Endnote
15); and (f) we have proposed that subtyping by sexual attraction (for
adolescents/ adults) be eliminated (see Endnote 18) but that subtyping
by the presence or absence of a co-occurring disorder of sex
development (DSD) be introduced (see Endnote 14). As in DSM-IV, we
recommend one overarching diagnosis, GI, with separate,
developmentally- appropriate criteria sets for children vs.
adolescents/ adults. The text material will provide updated information
on developmental trajectory data for clients who received the GI
diagnosis in childhood vs. adolescence or adulthood.

The term “sex” has been replaced by assigned “gender” in order to make
the criteria applicable to individuals with a DSD (Meyer-Bahlburg,
2009b). During the course of physical sex differentiation, some
aspects of biological sex (e.g., 46,XY genes) may be incongruent with
other aspects (e.g., the external genitalia); thus, using the term
“sex” would be confusing. The change also makes it possible for
individuals who have successfully transitioned to “lose” the diagnosis
after satisfactory treatment. This resolves the problem that, in the
DSM-IV-TR, there was a lack of an “exit clause,” meaning that
individuals once diagnosed with GID will always be considered to have
the diagnosis, regardless of whether they have transitioned and are
psychosocially adjusted in the identified gender role (Winters, 2008).
The diagnosis will also be applicable to transitioned individuals who
have regrets, because they did not feel like the other gender after
all. For instance, a natal male living in the female role and having
regrets experiences an incongruence between the “newly assigned”
female gender and the experienced/ expressed (still or again male)
gender.

3. It has been recommended by the Workgroup to delete the “perceived
cultural advantages” proviso. This was also recommended by the DSM-IV
Subcommittee on Gender Identity Disorders (Bradley et al., 1991).
There is no reason to “impute” one causal explanation for GI at the
expense of others (Zucker, 1992, 2009).

4. The 6 month duration was introduced to make at least a minimal
distinction between very transient and persistent GI. The duration
criterion was decided upon by clinical consensus. However, there is no
clear empirical literature supporting this particular period (e.g., 3
months vs. 6 months or 6 months vs. 12 months). There was, however,
consensus among the group that a lower-bound duration of 6 months
would be unlikely to yield false positives.

13. In the DSM-IV, there are two sets of clinical indicators (Criteria
A and B). This distinction is not supported by factor analytic
studies. The existing studies suggest that the concept of GI is best
captured by one underlying dimension (Cohen-Kettenis & van Goozen,
1997; Deogracias et al., 2007; Green, 1987; Johnson et al., 2004;
Singh et al., 2010).

14. There is considerable evidence individuals with a DSD experience
GI and may wish to change from their assigned gender; the percentage
of such individuals who experience GI is syndrome-dependent
(Cohen-Kettenis, 2005; Dessens, Slijper, & Drop, 2005; Mazur, 2005;
Meyer-Bahlburg, 1994, 2005, 2009a, 2009b). From a phenomenologic
perspective, DSD individuals with GI have both similarities and
differences to individuals with GI with no known DSD. Developmental
trajectories also have similarities and differences. The presence of a
DSD is suggestive of a specific causal mechanism that may not be
present in individuals without a diagnosable DSD.

15. It is our recommendation that the GI diagnosis be given on the
basis of the A criterion alone and that distress and/or impairment
(the D criterion in DSM-IV) be evaluated separately and independently.
This definitional issue remains under discussion in the DSM-V Task
Force for all psychiatric disorders and may have to be revisited
pending the outcome of that discussion. Although there are studies
showing that adolescents and adults with the DSM-IV diagnosis of GID
function poorly, this type of impairment is by no means a universal
finding. In some studies, for example, adolescents or adults with GID
were found to generally function psychologically in the non-clinical
range (Cohen-Kettenis & Pfäfflin, 2009; Meyer-Bahlburg, 2009a).
Moreover, increased psychiatric problems in transsexuals appear to be
preceded by increased experiences of stigma (Nuttbrock et al., 2009).
Postulating “inherent distress” in case one desires to be rid of body
parts that do not fit one’s identity is, in the absence of data, also
questionable (Meyer-Bahlburg, 2009a).

16. Although the DSM-IV diagnosis of GID encompasses more than
transsexualism, it is still often used as an equivalent to
transsexualism (Sohn & Bosinski, 2007). For instance, a man can meet
the two core criteria if he only believes he has the typical feelings
of a woman and does not feel at ease with the male gender role. The
same holds for a woman who just frequently passes as a man (e.g., in
terms of first name, clothing, and/or haircut) and does not feel
comfortable living as a conventional woman. Someone having a GID
diagnosis based on these subcriteria clearly differs from a person who
identifies completely with the other gender, can only relax when
permanently living in the other gender role, has a strong aversion
against the sex characteristics of his/her body, and wants to adjust
his/her body as much as technically possible in the direction of the
desired sex. Those who are distressed by having problems with just one
of the two criteria (e.g., feeling uncomfortable living as a
conventional man or woman) will have a GIDNOS diagnosis. This is
highly confusing for clinicians. It perpetuates the search for the
“true transsexual” only, in order to identify the right candidates for
hormone and surgical treatment instead of facilitating clinicians to
assess the type and severity of any type of GI and offer appropriate
treatment. Furthermore, in the DSM-IV, gender identity and gender role
were described as a dichotomy (either male or female) rather than a
multi-category concept or spectrum (Bockting, 2008; Bornstein, 1994;
Ekins & King, 2006; Lev, 2007; Røn, 2002). The current formulation
makes more explicit that a conceptualization of GI acknowledging the
wide variation of conditions will make it less likely that only one
type of treatment is connected to the diagnosis. Taking the above
regarding the avoidance of male-female dichotomies into account, in
the new formulation, the focus is on the discrepancy between
experienced/ expressed gender (which can be either male, female,
in-between or otherwise) and assigned gender (in most societies male
or female) rather than cross-gender identification and same-gender
aversion (Cohen-Kettenis & Pfäfflin, 2009).

17. In referring to secondary sex characteristics, anticipation of the
development of secondary sex characteristics has been added for young
adolescents. Adolescents increasingly show up at gender identity
clinics requesting gender reassignment, before the first signs of
puberty are visible (Delemarre-van de Waal & Cohen-Kettenis, 2006;
Zucker & Cohen-Kettenis, 2008).

18. In contemporary clinical practice, sexual orientation per se plays
only a minor role in treatment protocols or decisions. Also, changes
as to the preferred gender of sex partner occur during or after
treatment (DeCuypere, Janes, & Rubens, 2005; Lawrence, 2005; Schroder
& Carroll, 1999). It can be difficult to assess sexual orientation in
individuals with a GI diagnosis, as they preoperatively might give
incorrect information in order to be approved for hormonal and
surgical treatment (Lawrence, 1999). Because sexual orientation
subtyping is of interest to researchers in the field, it is
recommended that reference to it be addressed in the text, but not as
a specifier. It should also be assessed as a dimensional construct.

19. The subworkgroup has had extensive discussion about the placement
of GI in the nomenclature for DSM-V, as the meta-structure of the
entire manual is under review. The subworkgroup questions the
rationale for the current DSM-IV chapter Sexual and Gender Identity
Disorders, which contains three major classes of diagnoses: sexual
dysfunctions, paraphilias, and gender identity disorders (see
Meyer-Bahlburg, 2009a). Various alternative options to the current
placement are under consideration.

References Click Here#
302.85

SEVERITY

For Adolescents and Adults

Please complete the following questions: [Note to Task Force—these
first 4 questions are preliminary; the corresponding dimensional
questions for the categorical diagnosis are on the next page]

1. My current legal sex or gender (e.g., as listed under “sex” on my
passport or driver’s license, also called “assigned” gender) is:
a. Female
b. Male
c. Other (describe): ____________ _____

2. My confidence that I really am what my legal “sex” states (namely,
a girl/woman or boy/man) is:
a. None
b. Mild
c. Moderate
d. Strong
e. Very Stong

3. The way that I experience and express my true gender compared to my
legal sex or gender is:
a. Not at all different
b. Mildly different
c. Moderately different
d. Strongly different
e. Very Stongly different

4. I am distressed by feeling different from my legal sex or gender:
a. None
b. Mild
c. Moderate
d. Strong
e. Very Stong

Note to the Task Force: Definitions will be provided for primary and
secondary sex characteristics and “assigned sex” and “assigned
gender.” Questions A1-A6 are the dimensional metrics for the
corresponding categorical criteria.

For Questions 1-8, please circle the letter next to the statement that
applies to you the best.

A1. Over the past 6 months, how intense was your discomfort because
your primary and/or secondary sex characteristics do not match your
gender identity?

1. None
2. Mild
3. Moderate
4. Strong
5. Very Strong

A2. Over the past 6 months, how intense was your desire to be rid of
your primary and/or secondary sex characteristics because they do not
match your gender identity?

1. None
2. Mild
3. Moderate
4. Strong
5. Very Strong

A3. Over the past 6 months, how intense was your desire for the
primary and/or secondary sex characteristics of the other gender?

1. None
2. Mild
3. Moderate
4. Strong
5. Very Strong

A4. Over the past 6 months, how intense was your desire to be of the
other gender (or some gender different from your assigned gender)?
a. None
b. Mild
c. Moderate
d. Strong
e. Very Stong

A5. Over the past 6 months, how intense was your desire to be treated
as the other gender (or some gender different from your assigned
gender)?
a. None
b. Mild
c. Moderate
d. Strong
e. Very Stong

A6. Over the past 6 months, how intense was your conviction that you
have the typical feelings and reactions of the other gender (or some
gender different from your assigned gender)?
a. None
b. Mild
c. Moderate
d. Strong
e. Very Stong

7. Over the past 6 months, how would you describe your sexual
attraction to other people?
a. Sexually attracted to males
b. Sexually attracted to females
c. Sexually attracted to both males and females
d. Sexually attracted to neither males or females
e. Other (please describe): ____________ _________ _________ _________

8. How old were you when you first had the strong desire to be, or to
live in the gender role, of the other gender (or some gender different
from your assigned gender)?
a. Age 5 years or younger
b. Between 6 and 9 years
c. Between 10 and 12 years
d. Between 13 and 17 years
e. Age 18 years or older

DSM-IV

Gender Identity Disorder

A. A strong and persistent cross-gender identification (not merely a
desire for any perceived cultural advantages of being the other sex).

In children, the disturbance is manifested by four (or more) of the following:

1. Repeatedly stated desire to be, or insistence that he or she
is, the other sex

2. In boys, preference for cross-dressing or simulating female
attire; in girls, insistence on wearing only stereotypical masculine
clothing

3. Strong and persistent preferences for cross-sex roles in
make-believe play or persistent fantasies of being the other sex

4. Intense desire to participate in the stereotypical games and
pastimes of the other sex

5. Strong preference for playmates of the other sex

In adolescents and adults, the disturbance is manifested by symptoms
such as a stated desire to be the other sex, frequent passing as the
other sex, desire to live or be treated as the other sex, or the
conviction that he or she has the typical feelings and reactions of
the other sex.

B. Persistent discomfort with his or her sex or sense of
inappropriateness in the gender role of that sex.

In children, the disturbance is manifested by any of the following:

In boys, assertion that his penis or testes are disgusting or will
disappear or assertion that it would be better not to have a penis, or
aversion toward rough-and-tumble play and rejection of male
stereotypical toys, games, and activities;

In girls, rejection of urinating in a sitting position, assertion
that she has or will grow a penis, or assertion that she does not want
to grow breasts or menstruate, or marked aversion toward normative
feminine clothing.

In adolescents and adults, the disturbance is manifested by symptoms
such as preoccupation with getting rid of primary and secondary sex
characteristics (e.g., request for hormones, surgery, or other
procedures to physically alter sexual characteristics to simulate the
other sex) or belief that he or she was born the wrong sex.

C. The disturbance is not concurrent with a physical intersex condition.

D. The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or
impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of
functioning.

Code based on current age

Specify if (for sexually mature individuals) :

Sexually Attracted to Males

Sexually Attracted to Females

Sexually Attracted to Both

Sexually Attracted to Neither

http://www.dsm5.org proposed revision

Iowa House Rejects Anti Equality Amendment

One Iowa: Iowa House rejects attempt to advance amendment

2/9/2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 9, 2010

CONTACT JUSTIN UEBELHOR
515-288-4019 x 205 515-333-2525 (cell) justin@oneiowa.org

IOWA HOUSE REJECTS ATTEMPT TO ADVANCE AMENDMENT

(Des Moines, IA) The Iowa House today rejected procedural attempts by opponents of equality to advance an amendment to the Iowa Constitution seeking to overturn last April’s unanimous Iowa Supreme Court ruling and to deny the protections of civil marriage to gay and lesbian couples. “We applaud those legislators who voted to protect the freedoms of all Iowans and continue the job of balancing the budget and putting Iowans back to work. It’s time to move on from the destructive politics of division and focus on what matters to a great majority of Iowans,” said One Iowa Executive Director Carolyn Jenison.

One Iowa’s annual Lobby Day at the Capitol takes place tomorrow. Supporters will gather at the Capitol to share their stories with Iowa legislators, demonstrating the importance of civil marriage equality to Iowa families. Please contact Justin Uebelhor at 515-333-2525 to arrange press availability.

One Iowa is the state’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) advocacy organization, committed to full equality for LGBT individuals, including the freedom to marry. More information at http://www.oneiowa.org.

2/9/10

TELL IOWA LEGISLATURE: HANDS OFF LGBT SCHOOL CHILDREN

Tell the Iowa legislature that using school children as weapons to further a political agenda is unconscionable and will not be tolerated. The bill which would remove protections for LGBT children from bullying, 2291 is in the House Education subcommittee and being considered by:

Rep. Dennis M. Cohoon(D)
E-mail: dennis.cohoon@legis.state.ia.us
Home Address: 816 Randall Lane, P.O. Box 157, Burlington, IA, 52601
Home Telephone: 319-752-5057

Rep. Annette Sweeney(R)
E-mail: annette.sweeney@legis.state.ia.us
Home Address: 21547 Hwy S27, Alden, IA, 50006
Capitol Telephone: 515-281-3221

Rep. Phyllis Thede(D)
E-mail: phyllis.thede@legis.state.ia.us
Capitol Telephone: 515-281-3221

Sample email

Dear Representative

I am writing to express my objection to Bill 2291 which would remove protections currently in place for LGBT school children from bullying and harassment. This proposed bill is doubly odious because it would in essence use innocent children as weapons in pursuit of a political agenda.

Please do not pass this bill for consideration.

Thank you,


Bill Text after Back ground

Source: Iowa Independent A pair of Republican state legislators has introduced a bill that would remove protections for gay, lesbian and transgender students from an anti-bullying law passed in 2007.

State Reps. Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig, and Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, sponsored the legislation to remove sexual orientation and gender identity as definitions used for purposes of protecting students in public and nonpublic schools from harassment and bullying.

Schultz told NBC affiliate WHO-TV that the rationale behind the move is to force a vote on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, since the Iowa Supreme Court pointed to laws like Iowa’s Safe Schools Law in making its April decision to legalize same-sex marriage. Ryan Roemerman, executive director of Iowa Pride Network, said the bill would open up LGBT students to bullying and harassment.

“When our state is facing record budget deficits and unemployment, House Republicans feel their time is best spent picking on Iowa’s LGBT youth,” Roemerman said in a statement. “There is no better example as to why we have this law, so youth in Iowa don’t grow up to be like these bigots.”

******************
House File 2291 - Introduced

HOUSE FILE
BY SCHULTZ and WINDSCHITL

A BILL FOR

1 An Act relating to protected traits or characteristics of
2 students under public and nonpublic school harassment and
3 bullying prohibitions and policies.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
TLSB 6059YH (4) 83
kh/rj

PAG LIN

1 1 Section 1. Section 280.28, subsection 2, paragraph c, Code
1 2 2009, is amended to read as follows:
1 3 c. "Trait or characteristic of the student" includes but
1 4 is not limited to age, color, creed, national origin, race,
1 5 religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender
1 6 identity, physical attributes, physical or mental ability or
1 7 disability, ancestry, political party preference, political
1 8 belief, socioeconomic status, or familial status.
1 9 EXPLANATION
1 10 This bill strikes sexual orientation and gender identity
1 11 from the definition of the term "trait or characteristic of the
1 12 student" used for purposes of protecting students in public and
1 13 nonpublic schools from harassment and bullying.
LSB 6059YH (4) 83
kh/rj

2/8/10

CBS Superbowl ad Focuses on exclusion

CBS Superbowl ad Focuses on the exclusion of pro choice and LGBT people and in doing so CBS has become a mouthpiece for the ultra right wing conservative movement in America.

Prove me wrong.

CBS blog promotional post Superbowl piece makes it clear

CBS had rejected this ad in 2004 from the United Church of Christ which advocates for the inclusion of all people in faith because of "provocative, potentially controversial themes" while promoting the ultra right wing extremist group "focus on the family" as a representative view of wholesome and middle of the road, midstream all American life. It was not Tim Tebow's message that I objected to. The problem is that CBS allowed and facilitated 'focus on the family' efforts to place it's name in front of millions of viewers while Disallowing any other add from anyone who is different.



2/6/10

Support House (H.R. 1064) and Senate (S.R. 409) bills condemning the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill


U.S. Citizens: Contact your representatives in Congress »

Non U.S. Citizens: Contact key Congresspeople »

Background
In Uganda, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009 was introduced in Parliament last October. The bill targets lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Ugandans, their advocates, and those that know someone LGBT. It would reaffirm existing penalties for homosexuality and introduce sweeping new criminal provisions. Some of these troubling provisions include: imprisonment for life for anyone convicted of the "offence of homosexuality;" punishment for the "promotion of homosexuality" with prison terms; imprisonment for up to three years for anyone who fails to report to the authorities LGBT people or LGBT human rights defenders they know; and most egregiously, the application of the death penalty to anyone in Uganda who has consensual same-sex relations repeatedly or who has consensual same-sex relations and is HIV positive. If this bill were to pass, it would be a devastating blow to the human rights of all Ugandans and would significantly impede effective HIV prevention and care.


This week in the U.S., a bipartisan group of members of Congress proposed resolutions condemning the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. The House resolution, H.R. 1064, sponsored by Howard Berman (D-CA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), received thirty-nine cosponsors. The Senate resolution, S.R. 409, sponsored by Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Tom Coburn (R-OK), currently has four co-sponsors. The House resolution extends beyond Uganda to call on all nations to reject laws that criminalize homosexuality.


Public pressure is needed to ensure that both resolutions come up for a vote. Condemnation by the U.S. government is one of many factors that could persuade Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to prevent the bill from becoming law. If the resolutions pass, the U.S. Congress will join President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in sending the government of Uganda a unified message that passing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill will have serious consequences to its relationships internationally.


U.S. Citizens: Contact your representatives in Congress »


Non U.S. Citizens: Contact key Congresspeople »