Transgenderism: A Mental Condition or Normal Human Variance

I don't really have anything interesting going on so I figured I would post my essay that I'm working on.  It's not totally done, I'm going to add some personal stuff (which I'll add into this one when I finish), but I think it's pretty good so far.  Sorry for the weird formatting I copy and pasted it over.
UPDATE: Here is my finished essay.  I did very well on it and got a 97%.  Only one paper left to do this semester.  I'm almost done with that one.  I chose how harmful certain autism therapies are as my topic.  It's coming along nicely.

Transgenderism: A Mental Condition or Normal Human Variance

       Transgender is an umbrella term denoting people who identify themselves to be of a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth.  For instance, a female identified person may feel like she was born in a wrong body because her feelings, behavior, clothing, body characteristics, voice, and hairstyles are those of a male. Most transgender people go through hormone replacement therapy in which they are given either estrogen or testosterone in accordance with their gender identity.  Sometimes transgender people go to the extent of having surgeries to change their appearance and their sexual organs to align with their gender identity.  Transgender people try to make their expression of gender align with the gender they identify with internally.  According to recent American polls, quite a few people understand what to be a transgender person means.  Many people throughout the world overly discriminate and harass transgender people not knowing that transgenderism is not a mental condition but rather a normal human variant.

       As a mentally ill transgender person I know a fair bit about both.  Along with being a transgender male I also have depression, anxiety, and autism.  To me, being transgender does not in any way feel like a mental disorder.  My mental disabilities bleed into every aspect of my life, preventing me from going out, from talking to people, from doing the things that normal people can do without issue.  Being transgender does not negatively impact a person from within in the same way as a mental illness.  Rather it is society that places undue hardships onto transgender people.  Most of my family does not acknowledge that I am transgender; every time I bring it up they pointedly ignore it and change the subject.  When I do push them about it, they insist that I am a woman that I will never be a man.  This is hurtful and it’s not much better out of the house and amongst strangers.  I have had people call me offensive names, I have had people move as if they were going to assault me, and I have had people yell at me for trying to go into the bathroom.  When out in public I fear for my safety.  Transgender people have a one in twelve chance of being murdered solely for being trans and the people who kill us get away with it by claiming they were so shocked about us being trans that they could not help it.  This is unacceptable.  Transgenderism is not a mental illness; we are not sick, or crazy, or dangerous, we are just people trying to get by the same as everyone else.

       Several questions have been raised as to whether being a transgender person is a mental disorder.   The American Psychological Association recently argued that being a transgender person is not a mental illness.  The association made these changes to its manual known as DSM-5 and instead focused on the people who are usually distressed by their gender identity (Basu).  This idea is re-emphasized by Dr. Johanna Olson in an interview with ABC News.  He says that doctors, therapists and psychiatrists who have treated transgender people do not align it as a mental disorder.  They believe that it is a normal variation of gender identity that causes little distress to a person who does not know how to deal with the world anymore (Burke). 

       Many experiences such as discrimination, assault and being outcasted are the ones that cause the transgender population to suffer from depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts or actions and other common mental health disorders.  At a rate of ten times the national average an estimated 41% of transgender people will attempt suicide at some point in their life.  

               Because mental illness as well as gender non-conformity is still 
               stigmatized in our society, many transgender individuals suffering with 
               depression are in the unfortunate position of having to contend with two 
               stigmas, which in turn can exacerbate their mental health problems. 
               When a people who identifies as trans has internalized society's negative 
               view of them, it is often the case that they do not seek out the treatment 
               they need (Scutti).

The APA argued that according to the analytical and statistical guide of mental disorders, those who go through complex gender incongruence are normally given the diagnosis of gender dysphoria.  Ariel Williams, who is a writer-artist and also a transgender person, concurs with this argument, saying that some people explain the diagnosis inappropriately as pathologies gender non-congruence and that it should be removed.  He goes ahead to say that they are convinced that it is an essential to hold on the diagnosis to ensure easy accessibility to care.  He identifies the international classification of diseases (ICD) in undergoing revision, and changes might occur to the current classification of stubborn, persistent incongruence. (Steinmetz)

       During the 1990s, the transgender population faced social stigma from society and were placed in the same category as pedophiles.  Williams explains the reason as to why people call transgender people mentally ill is because before a person can receive hormone replacement therapy or get surgery, they must receive at least two years of treatment from a psychologist or therapist to prove that they are not mentally ill.  This means that before conducting a surgery the doctor must assure them that they are not suffering from delusions that could be causing the difference in their gender identity.  Williams thinks that these issues are the ones that contribute to the society’s wrong thinking about the transgender.  He further believes that it could be very easy if people took the matter as easier to understand.  Dr. Dana Beyer, LGBT civil rights describe a similar situation, restating that the new development outlines a clear understanding of transgender people and will help bring an end to the stigmatization and discrimination with the rest of the community (Basu).

       It is not known why transgenderism occurs.  According to the American Psychological Association, transgender people do not choose to be born transgender but rather face a situation where their gender identity is not the same as their birth sex.  An article by Time magazine outlines that a lot should be done about the transgender rights.  If nothing is done, our cultures may as well disappear into discrimination and segregation.  The transgender population should be given the right to do whatever they want, including using the restrooms of what they feel they are, male or female.  For them having a comfortable and safe place to go to and people to talk to, transgender people could feel at home and not feel like strangers when around people.  The Center for American Progress also shares similar views, arguing that a time had come to embrace change and treat everyone equally, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.  In a recent article, the issue was revisited by the Center for American Progress:

               State and local governments should put into place policies and practices 
               that treat all workers the same, regardless of sexual orientation or gender 
               identity. These policies are good for gay and transgender workers.  They are 
               good for efficient and effective government.  And they are good for the 
               American taxpayer.  The time to act is now.  (Burns, Graham and 
               Menefee-Libey 37)

However, as of today, the debate still continues, and not all scholars and psychiatrists believe that being transgender is not a mental condition.  Dr. Paul R. McHugh, who is the current Distinguished Service Professor of Psychiatry at John Hopkins Hospital, differs sharply with the APA, arguing that indeed transgenderism qualifies as a mental disorder.  He continues to explain that the condition should be treated rather than pursuing alternatives such as sex change, which according to him is biologically impossible.  McHugh emphasizes that the idea of promoting surgeries aimed at sexual reassignment among transgender people only results in more harm and promotes a mental disorder.  Jim Goad, author and publisher, makes a similar point, arguing that undergoing surgery to change a person’s sex is not the solution for transgender people.  He continues to explain that transgender people suffer a disorder of “assumption” and that this is similar to other mental disorders (“If We Can Be”).

       Society should learn to accept the transgender population as people.  Reading of books so as to understand them much better can help to change people’s views.  Language also matters most to the transgender population. Certain phrases and words should be avoided when talking to transgender people so as to not say something offensive or transphobic.  The entire community should embrace the transgender community so as to move forward in building our nation's awareness. Therefore, transgender people deserve equality, and they should not be discriminated or harassed because of their gender identity but rather the society should accept that every person is different in their unique way.