A Healthy Disagreement

Sasha and Stella Discuss the Re-Psychopathologization of Transgender Identities

Our next Live + Unfiltered discussion is happening Friday, October 24th at 5:00 pm ET / 10:00 pm UK time — and we hope you’ll join us!

This month, we’ll be discussing Genspect’s recent campaign to re-psychopathologies transgender identities. And we invite you to join us for a discussion, disagreement and diverging perspectives.

The Re-Psychopathologization Campaign argues that transgender identification and the drive for medical transition should be understood as a pathological condition characterized by an Extreme Overvalued Belief. This long-established psychiatric concept refers to rigid, culture-reinforced beliefs that resist challenge, appear rational to the individual, and can drive extreme or harmful actions.

For the real GWL super-fans out there, you may remember this concept being introduced to us by Az Hakeem in this episode of the podcast almost a year ago.

The campaign challenges the 2010 move by WPATH to “de-psychopathologize” gender variance—arguing that this was not based on scientific discovery, but on political activism, and that it has opened the floodgates to social contagion and dangerous, experimental medicalization.

But not everyone agrees. Sasha will share her concerns about this framing—particularly how it may affect young people struggling with gender dysphoria, the lack of sensitivity to socially-mediated aspects of trans within the culture, and the way this language can so easily be misunderstood as hostile towards trans-identified people.

Your “Homework”

Before we meet, read the campaign for yourself and consider your take on it. Come ready with ideas, questions, support, or challenges.

If you’d like to dive deeper into the context and thoughts surrounding this move, you can watch Stella and Mia’s discussion about the campaign on the Beyond Gender Podcast here.

🔗 Google Meet Link: Join us live on Friday, October 24th…