It's essential to approach this topic with sensitivity and understanding. Gender identity is not considered a psychological disorder because it is a fundamental aspect of a person's self-concept and individuality. It refers to an individual's deeply felt sense of their gender, whether that aligns with their assigned sex at birth or not. For the vast majority of people, their gender identity aligns with their biological sex, which is referred to as being cisgender. However, some individuals identify as transgender, meaning their gender identity differs from their assigned sex.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and other major medical and psychological organizations, such as the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), recognize that being transgender is not a mental disorder. In 2019, the World Health Organization removed "gender identity disorder" from its list of mental disorders and reclassified it as "gender incongruence."
The comparison with Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID) is a somewhat separate issue. BIID is a rare psychological condition where individuals feel a strong desire to amputate a healthy limb or become disabled. It is crucial to understand that BIID is a complex and different condition from gender identity. The reason it is treated is not because the desire to amputate is inherently wrong or shameful, but because the act of self-harm could cause significant physical harm, impair a person's life, and lead to severe psychological distress.
Contrastingly, being transgender or having a different gender identity from one's assigned sex does not cause harm to oneself or others. Instead, the distress and harm arise primarily from societal discrimination, lack of acceptance, and the struggle to live authentically in a world that might not understand or fully support one's gender identity.
Medical and psychological organizations generally recommend supporting transgender individuals through gender-affirming care, which may include therapy, hormone therapy, and, in some cases, gender-affirming surgeries. These treatments aim to improve mental well-being and help individuals align their physical appearance with their internal gender identity when they desire to do so.
It is essential to recognize that being transgender is a natural and valid variation of human diversity, and respecting a person's gender identity is crucial for their mental health and well-being. Inclusive and accepting environments play a significant role in promoting the overall health and happiness of transgender individuals.