"What is the big deal?" they ask.
"Fetishistic transvestism, autogynephilia and autoandropphilia are just terms used by specialists. Sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt you."
I recently came over a new paper on the paraphilias (perversions) listed in the DSM-IV (the current version of the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). The text is a clear illustration for why it is so important to get crossdressers and crossdreamers out of the manual.
Being included in this section of the manual is much, much worse than being hit by sticks and stones, believe me!
Judged by your company
Here are some paragraphs from the abstract::
"An overview and demographic description of each of the current DSM-IV-TR paraphilias (i.e., Pedophilia, Transvestic Fetishism, Exhibitionism, Fetishism, Voyeurism, Sexual Masochism, Frotteurism, Paraphilia Not Otherwise Specified) are provided. Most of these are medical descriptions of sexual offenses..."
It doesn't say that crossdressers are sex offenders -- not explicitly . But, seriously, by grouping crossdressing together with practicing pedophiles, it is extremely hard not to make the association.
In other words: Here are some presumably well educated scientists who read this section as a list of sexual offenses. How can anyone think that this will not be read this way by non-experts?
In other words: Here are some presumably well educated scientists who read this section as a list of sexual offenses. How can anyone think that this will not be read this way by non-experts?