APA Removes Transgenderism as 'Mental Illness'

Finally.  2012 marks the year when the APA (the American Psychiatric Association) has officially replaced the term "Gender Identity Disorder" with "Gender Dysphoria."  This means transgender is no longer categorized as a mental illness.

The U.S. now joins Canada, Great Britain, the Netherlands, France, the Scandinavian countries, and several others that have already changed their official policies.

The change will have an impact in legal cases and legislation, and is being hailed as a huge step forward for trans rights not just in the states, but potentially in other countries as well.  For better or worse it cannot be denied that America is influential; this includes its medical associations, whose policies do have an influence on the policies of medical associations in other (less progressive) countries.

PMA: "We Won't Discriminate... Buuuut..."

In somewhat of a mixed-message, the PMA (Philippine Military Academy) has stated that there is no ban on gays and lesbians from applying for entry.  They insist they do not and will not discriminate against or turn away cadets if they happen to be gay or lesbian.

This should be applauded.  It's a great thing for the premier military academy of the Philippines to publicly commit to such a policy, and they honestly and sincerely deserve a pat on the back for it.

And then come the "buts"...

PMA spokesperson, Capt. Agnes Flores, says that cross-dressing is a total no-no.  Okay.  But that's not a gay issue, that's a cross-dressing issue.  The vast majority of cross-dressers are either transvestites or transgenders, not gay men and lesbians (see Definitions page).  Captain Flores is a little confused and prone to stereotyping, it seems.  Bless her heart though, she's trying.

"Uphold Our Rights, But No One Else's"

Dashing in white.  So pretty.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is at it again.  They never cease to amaze.

In typical style, the CBCP is busy panicking over the prospect of all Filipinos being treated with equality.

Senate Bill 2814, the "Act Prohibiting Discrimination, Profiling, Violence and All Forms of Intolerance Against persons based on ethnicity, race, religion, belief, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, language, disability, or other status," is making the bishops grip their rosaries even more tightly than usual these days.  Their fear is that, if it passes, SB 2814 will open the Philippines up to same-sex marriage.  Oh how they love to push those religious fear buttons!