wielded as a political cudgel, the field of psychiatry has a duty to uncouple gender diversity from the stigma of diagnostic classifications suggesting illness.Clinicians like myself find that an affirming approach to care for transgender and gender-diverse people, in which diverse gender identities are validated without an assumption of pathology, reduces stigma.
What is the value in assigning a diagnosis to a patient with no immediate medical needs, when a description of a specific service code such as “gender-affirming counseling” would suffice?
And what is the rationale for requiring that a prepubescent child who is exploring their gender identity and expression receive a clinical diagnosis before mental health care can be delivered?.