by Penny Robo
With worrisome regularity, certain people seem to be under the impression that there’s a nefarious cadre working to further trans interests, a powerful and shadowy organization seeking to shut down radfems, traditionalists, and other “gender critical” fuckhats and the like. Continue reading
by Penny Robo
It has been utterly exhausting existing in this constant state of low level panic, a state often interrupted only by moments of shock/disgust/terror/disbelief. Some have been in this state since Trump’s nomination, others since his win, yet more with every policy proposal or bafflingly braggadocious admittance of total ignorance. Continue reading
by Heather McNamara
Scroll against a black background glittering with space stars.
THE LAST JEDI
It is outer space pride month and preparations for the rebel alliance pride parade are well underway. General Leia has gathered the rebel alliance fleet to decorate them in rainbows and make them look their best.
Unfortunately the Empire permit department led by General Hux, an ex-gay, is blocking the rebel alliance’s permit application for use of the really cool looking salt planet Crait which would totally complement their rainbow aesthetic.
Rey has flown to the outer reaches of the galaxy to meet Luke Skywalker. Once a great and powerful Jedi, Luke exiled himself so he could have an epic mantrum when he didn’t get his way with Kylo Ren. Nonetheless, he may hold the key to the knowledge Rey needs to wipe out homophobia and transphobia forever.
Meanwhile, General Leia has sent her most handsome gay male pilot in hopes that General Hux can be persuaded to change his mind. . . . Continue reading
The last time I addressed the faulty argument of “being trans is a mental disorder – it’s in the DSM” – a belief still held by more than 20% of Americans – I noted that such a labeling does not actually imply that gender dysphoria should be treated any differently than the current standard of care. The same organization responsible for placing gender dysphoria in the DSM has also gone to great pains to explain that gender affirmation and medical transition are known to be the most effective and successful treatments, and that its presence in the DSM is meant to facilitate access to this care rather than hinder it. Whether or not gender dysphoria is termed a “mental disorder” does nothing to alter the substantial body of research and clinical experience showing that the affirming approach produces the best known outcomes – a goal that is more important than whatever is being accomplished (stigma, exclusion, and invalidation) by ignorantly accusing trans people of being “mentally ill”. Continue reading
Clinical instruments evaluating patients for possible gender dysphoria have historically followed a relatively basic structure. Inventories like the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale (UGDS) (Schneider et al., 2016) and Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire for Adolescents and Adults (GIDYQ-AA) (Deogracias et al., 2007) ask questions that are straightforwardly related to gender identity, bodily dysphoria, and social gender roles, such as (paraphrased): Continue reading
