The development has proven to be a welcome change in India but has also led to a host of questions
The World Health Organisation has reclassified gender dysphoria in terms of “sexual health”, and has eliminated it from its list of mental disorders.
The development has proven to be a welcome change in India but has also led to a host of questions. While some representatives of the LGBTQIA+ community are happy with the development, some others say a lot more needs to be done to ensure enforcement of their rights in the country.
According to the Aids Healthcare Foundation, India, the delisting of trans-sexuality from a list of mental health or behavioural disorders took a very long time for the scientific communities to be agreed upon. The foundation questions if the new understanding of the matter is enough as it cites gender identity as a coronary of sexual health alone.
The foundation also raised concerns if the new change will help combat stigma and apprehension among the masses. Also, Indian rights activists want policies and laws to be changed according to the new normative as soon as possible. Koninika Roy, Advocacy Officer, The Humsafar Trust, said, “The transgender community has long been pathologised and that has led to numerous atrocities against them. The WHO’s decision will be a relief for many, who have struggled with this medicalisation.”
The trans community in India continues to face stigma. While at certain places they are worshiped, at others they are treated as outcastes.
“Measures to make people aware should be put in place around the globe to accept the LGBTQIA+. The question of equity and equality still remains far from being addresses and hence, the fight should continue. May be we can change LGBTQIA+ as “BH” — BORN HUMAN — to add effect to attitudinal changes among the masses. Let us fight for the rights of these communities until they are identified as “ME” and not as “THEY”, said Dr V Sam Prasad, Country Programme Director, Aids Healthcare Foundation, India.
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 "WHO eliminates gender dysphoria as mental disorder")
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