Comments on: Who Decides If LGBT Is Normal?

By: BabyCenter: MOMformation » Blog Archive » It’s a boy! Who’s a girl? Gender identity

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 13:01:02 +0000

[...] Related: Dana, sponsor of the blogging for GLBT Day, wrote about the NPR piece at Mombian. [...]

By: Still mad: more on DSM-V/Zucker/Blanchard « bird of paradox

Still mad: more on DSM-V/Zucker/Blanchard « bird of paradox — Sun, 18 May 2008 14:25:10 +0000

[...] Who Decides If LGBT Is Normal? - Posted by Dana at Mombian; link here [...]

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:58:05 +0000

I didn’t get to hear the broadcast, but I read the transcript, and it just made me cry. The story and quotes from the child being “treated” by Dr. Zucker were terribly sad. Policing her/himself to avoid seeing pink- if a child thinks there is something wrong inside for every time of being drawn to a pink thing or a girl’s toy or a friend who is a girl… Dr. Zucker is teaching that child self-hate. I hope s/he has the inner strength to get through it all.

By: Daniel Briggs

Daniel Briggs — Thu, 15 May 2008 13:28:21 +0000

“What I do know is that anyone whose views coincide with those of the “ex-gay” movement should not be deciding how and whether to change any gender-related definitions in the DSM.”

Why is Dr. Zucker necessarily disqualified for being “a member of the ‘ex-gay’ movement”? You say that while homosexuality was in the DSM as a disorder, now we know better; reasonable minds differ on this point, but you’re entitled to your opinion and it is supported by the DSM-IV. Assuming that you’re right–that homosexuality was considered a disorder but no longer is because now we know better–why couldn’t Dr. Zucker’s conclusion be correct? Why couldn’t we learn more about GID and, in the course of time, “know better” and correctly identify it as a disorder? The process can work both ways, can’t it?

By: Kim/hormone-colored days

Kim/hormone-colored days — Thu, 15 May 2008 03:13:21 +0000

I’m with Betsy. I caught the first piece midway through on my way home from work. It was heartbeaking to hear the mom describe how Dr. Zucker’s treatment was affecting her child and the family. The poor kid is terrified to even look at the color pink!

On the other hand, the family that works with Dr. Ehrensaft, even though they had clearly struggled a bit, sounded much more resolved with the transgender issue and supportive of their child.

Interestingly, I read a piece about autism and the “neurodiversity movement” Sunday’s Chicago Tribune and thought about parallels with NPR piece-mainly- who gets to decide how or what others should be? What’s normal?

Some people with Aspergers, those at the high-functuioning end of the autism sprectrum want to be free to be themselves and relish their unique experiences rather than be told/encouraged/trained/forced to act “normal.”

By: ADF Alliance Alert » “Who Decides If LGBT Is Normal?” Homosexual advocates alarmed at APA transitions

Wed, 14 May 2008 22:51:58 +0000

[...] Mombian Blog reports that homosexual advocates are alarmed at the appointment of Dr. Kenneth Zucker as the APA Sexual and Gender Identity Disorder Chair that will revise the Manual for Diagnosis of Mental Disorders (DSM). Dana at Mombian writes: Zucker, as it turns out, is the darling of groups such as NARTH, the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality . . . [...]

By: Betsy

Betsy — Wed, 14 May 2008 09:20:11 +0000

We heard that story on NPR on the way home from work last week, and were absolutely heartbroken when we heard what Dr. Zucker was doing. I am outraged to hear of his new appointment and am off to sign the petition right now.

On the other hand, Dr. Ehrensaft sounded incredible!