Y. Gavriel Ansara founded and directed Lifelines Rhode Island, Rhode Island's only advocacy, education, and support organization focused on identifying and meeting the diverse needs of trans, gender spectrum, and intersex/embodiment spectrum individuals from 2006-2008. In July, 2008, he will transition from directorship to the Lifelines Advisory Board. Gavi has 15 years of experience as an activist, outreach worker, and educator on GLB, TGI, sexuality, anti-racist, disability rights, and multicultural issues. From 2001-2008, he founded and coordinated the Tiferet outreach project and served as a Keshet Board Member. Since 2005, he has served on the editorial staff of Developmental Psychology, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Psychological Association. In addition, he served as an invited student reviewer for several manuscripts. He has presented on TGI topics at high schools, colleges, medical schools, clinics, youth programs, religious communities, and conferences. Gavi has designed educational curricula for psychologists, clergy, social workers, youth, educators, and physicians, and served as co-presenter for a Grand Round at Rhode Island Hospital's Hasbro Developmental-Behavioural Pediatrics Division with internationally recognised medical expert in paediatric care of trans and intersex children and youth, Dr. Norm Spack, and Professor of Medicine and Community Health at Brown Medical School, Dr. Jody Rich. He will begin postgraduate studies in Social Psychology at the University of Surrey, UK in September, 2008. He co-authored a chapter on gender identity/expression and bullying in Bully-proofing your school: Cultural proficiency (in press) with child psychologist Carla Garrity of the Neuro-Developmental Ctr. (Denver, CO), and he has other publications in preparation. Gavi is a affirmed man of trans experience (designated female at birth), a gay, polycultural immigrant with light-skinned passing privilege, a polyglot, and an Empath. He is also an aspiring literary alchemist, healer, singer-songwriter, avid bookworm, vegetarian in the process of becoming vegan, and advocate against interpersonal violence and trans-species abuse. Gavi is an enthusiast of eco-friendly travel, eco-friendly canal boats, swimming, wilderness hiking, camping, and little seaside cottages.
Contact information:
Mr Y. Gavriel Ansara
Open Response to Jack Drescher and The American Psychiatric Association:
Please read the original e-mail that Gavi is resonding to: Click here
JD: “Further, there is absoutely no possibility that the diagnosis of homosexuality will be put back in to the DSM--anyone who tells you that it can be, could be, would be, or will be put back in, knows not of what they speak!”
Ken Zucker openly engages in and promotes reparative therapy for trans, gender variant, and intersex children to make them identify with the gender associated with their birth-assigned biological sex. Ken Zucker’s work is eagerly cited by NARTH, a leading anti-gay proponent of reparative therapy to “cure homosexuality”. Ken Zucker has made the following public statement, which clarifies his view on the diagnosis of homosexuality:
The "most acute ethical issue may concern the relation between GID and a later homosexual sexual orientation. Follow-up studies of boys who have GID that largely is untreated, indicated that homosexuality is the most common long-term psychosexual outcome."
In his own words, one objective of Zucker’s reparative therapy work is to ensure that children do not end up gay. Many of the children who have undergone this reparative therapy do turn out to be gay or lesbian in later life. In that sense, “GID” diagnoses in children actively function as a “back door” through which clinicians like Zucker continue to pathologise and problematise same sex attractions and behaviours (stereo)typically associated with these attractions. This also has the effect of conflating two distinct variables, sexual orientation and gender. Current literature has established that people who affirm gender identities that differ from their birth assignments span all possible sexual orientations; failure to recognise this diversity is a critical flaw in Zucker’s approach.
Since Ken Zucker’s reparative therapy actively violates not only the UN International Declaration on the Rights of the Child, but also resolutions AGAINST reparative therapy for sexual orientation by both the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association, his practice could indeed be considered in clear violation of professional ethics. This is not mere rumour or misinformation; a simple Google search on Ken Zucker’s work in his own words, as well as numerous video footage of interviews he has given to the press, will reveal the validity of these statements.
JD: “And finally, as mentioned in the APA statement below, the DSM is about diagnosis and says nothing about treatment. So there will be NO Treatment recommendations coming out of our workgroup. Instead, a separate Task Force (having nothing to do with DSM) is to be soon appointed by APA to scientifically review the issues of treatment.”
While it is technically correct that the DSM does not provide treatment recommendations, its diagnostic guidelines have a substantial and well-documented history of impacting treatment recommendations. In fact, one rationale for removing “homosexuality” from inclusion as a psychiatric diagnosis in the DSM was that the continued inclusion of this diagnosis would promote treatments to “cure” it. This spurious diagnosis was indeed used to justify reparative therapy aimed at “making gay people straight”. The continued inclusion of “gender identity disorder” in DSM permits human rights abuses of trans, gender variant, and intersex children. Ken Zucker’s reparative therapy to “fix” kids with gender identities that differ from their birth-assigned genders relies upon the presence of a “gender identity disorder” diagnosis. Since his professional livelihood is at stake in this case, he has a clear conflict of interest in any DSM-related work involving gender identity “disorders”.
Ignoring the established influence of DSM diagnostic categories on treatment recommendations ignores the historic relationship between these factors, as documented for the history of “hysteria” and “homosexuality”. Those of us whose lives stand to be adversely affected by the DSM hope that the task force related to treatment will select a chair with less unscientific views on sexual orientation and gender.
The American Psychiatric Association’s Statement on GID and the DSM, on May 9th, 2008, states:
“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.”
Appointing as the head of the committee someone who openly advocates reparative therapy for gender identities that do not match birth-assigned genders does NOT reflect the most current clinical or scientific knowledge. In fact, it contradicts established, evidence-based findings cited in the American Psychiatric Association’s own resolution against reparative therapy for sexual orientation that reparative therapy to “fix” people causes profound and often permanent psychological damage. By appointing Ken Zucker as chair of the Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Work Group, the APA is in violation of its own long-standing mission.
“Through advocacy and education of the public and policymakers, the APA also affirms it commitment to reducing stigma and discrimination.”
According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) , as evinced by text located at http://www.aapa.org/clinissues/2007C03.pdf:
"Gender Identity Disorder (GID): Diagnosis recognized in DSM and ICD; representing incongruence between sex assigned at birth and gender identity; is a separate and distinct demographic from sexual orientation. The gold standard of treatment for GID is to support a patient's integration of their gender identity into their life. Often includes change in dress, selection of new name, change in pronoun and medical and/or surgical interventions. Treatments intended to alter gender identity are contraindicated."
Diagnosing and attempting to “reorient” children with gender identities that diverge from their birth assignments creates stigma and epitomizes anti-trans discrimination. It is the APA that appears to require both advocacy and education in this case.
“All DSM-V work group proposals will be based on a careful, balanced review and analysis of the best clinical and scientific data.”
--Paraphilias, chaired by Ray Blanchard, Ph.D.”
Ray Blanchard’s approach to affirmed women who were designated male at birth reflects a similarly problematic approach that is neither careful nor balanced. His concept of “autogynephilia” pathologises sexuality in trans women that is considered healthy when expressed by non-trans women. For example, an affirmed women who identifies as a lesbian is considered paraphilic, while a cisgender woman is not. An affirmed woman who feels sexy when wearing lingerie is considered paraphilic, while the bulk of Western culture and psychology acknowledges that it is natural for many cisgender women to feel sexy when wearing lingerie. Inclusion of “autogynephilia” in DSM-V as a psychiatric diagnosis would legitimise this unfounded discrimination.
I remain disappointed by the apparent dismissive nature of the responses by both Jack Drescher and by the American Psychiatric Association. Activists and fellow clinicians have raised valid and substantive concerns. Reducing these concerns to “rumour” or “misinformation” alters neither their validity nor their urgency.
Jack Drescher can be shown in this youtube video, in his own words, criticising reparative therapy for sexual orientation:
Yet Drescher has publicly dismissed concerns from trans and intersex advocates about Ken Zucker's reparative therapy for gender identity. This double standard is discriminatory and transphobic. As a non-trans and non-intersex gay man, it appears that Drescher's failure to consider Ken Zucker's reparative therapy to change trans people into cisgender people equally reprehensible to reparative therapy to make gay people straight reflects cisgender privilege.
Dr. Drescher, it is deeply unfortunate that a gay man in your position would contribute to oppression against trans and intersex people by backing Ken Zucker in this area. It is clear from the youtube video- which you cannot dismiss as mere "rumour" or "misinformation" as you have previous objections to Zucker's policies- that you would respond quite differently to reparative therapy when it affects a group to which you belong.
Gavi
Y. Gavriel Ansara
Organisation Intersex International,
Board member and spokesman on multicultural issues
From: Jack Drescher
To:
Date: 20 May 2008
Subject: RE: ** Please Respond by Wednesday, June 14th - Board Retreat **
PLEASE CIRCULATE
From Jack Drescher, MD
May 14, 2008
First I want to thank the scores of concerned colleagues and LGBT community activists who forwarded to me the many e-mail rumors about the American Psychiatric Association's DSM process currently circulating on the internet.
Unfortunately, it is too early in the DSM process for snopes.com to have debunked the many myths you may have heard.
Also, sadly, there is an understandable level of anxiety about the DSM process that has led to unwarranted ad hominem attacks on individual work group members.
Yes, I have been appointed a member of the Sexual and Gender Identity Workgroup and I have also served as past Chair of APA's Committee on GLB Issues, Although I have spoken on LGBT issues of interest to our community as APA's representative in the past, the entire DSM process (scheduled for 2012 completion) is complex and I am not the one APA chose to explain it all.
In the interests of allayiing community concerns, however, I am forwarding with this email a statement from APA which was issued last Friday (5/9) in response to the community concerns (attached as word document and reprinted below).
While I am not the APA point person to speak about the entire process, I canclarify a few issues.
First, it is the American Psychiatric Association which writes the DSM, not our esteemed colleagues in the other APA (the American Psychological Association).
Further, there is absoutely no possibility that the diagnosis of homosexuality will be put back in to the DSM--anyone who tells you that it can be, could be, would be, or will be put back in, knows not of what they speak!
And finally, as mentioned in the APA statement below, the DSM is aboutdiagnosis and says nothing about treatment. So there will be NO treatmentrecommendations coming out of our workgroup. Instead, a separate Task Force(having nothing to do with DSM) is to be soon appointed by APA toscientifically review the issues of treatment.
Feel free to circulate the apa statement.
Jack Drescher, MD
www.jackdreschermd.net
*************************************************
APA STATEMENT ON GID AND THE DSM
May 9, 2008
The American Psychiatric Association has received inquiries about the DSM-Vprocess, particularly concerns raised about the Sexual and Gender IdentityDisorders 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.
OII-United Kingdom
Y. Gavriel Ansara, OII Spokesman, Multicultural Issues
Policy Statements
