By Kelli Busey
As a transgender activist I have been amazed and welcomed by the Methodist faith. It became apparent early to our leadership in the RMN that transgender people are a minority with in a minority, and very few knew even knew anything about us at all.
This post is not about the Methodist faith but I hope it further enlightenments our most valued allies as to the conundrum we are entangled in.
We are struggling to free ourselves from tyranny and entrapment. We are struggling to be accepted and understood within our own GLBT communities of faith.
As we all are aware, through out history there has been a need for society to pigeon hole people who live outside of what is generally accepted as 'normal'.
The APA is currently inflicting great harm on one such group now.
Transgender people have long been stigmatized and marginalized by the APA which then profits from this diagnosis.
The truth is the APA is causing anguish and suicide.
APA protest speaker Dr. Madeline Deutsch
We are calling on the APA to make an official statement that all Gender Identities and Expressions are natural human variation, and not disease or mental illness. And for the APA to reshape the upcoming DSM V version to remove stigmatizing and problematic portions of the diagnosis "Gender Identity Disorder."
On the web:
Resolution from the IFGE BOD to the APA
Reconciling Ministries Network mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our Church and world into the full expression of Christ’s inclusive love.
