ICD-11

If you haven’t heard already the latest version of the International Code of Diseases (ICD) removed us from the category of mental illness. USA Today had an article about the “why.”

Being transgender no longer classified as mental illness. Here's why
By Caroline Simon,
June 20, 2018

Being transgender is no longer classified as a mental illness by the World Health Organization – a key sign of progress for an often-marginalized community.

WHO announced Monday that in its newly released edition of the International Classification of Diseases, gender incongruence will now be classified as a sexual health condition.
[…]
"It was taken out from the mental health disorders because we had a better understanding that this wasn't actually a mental health condition and leaving it there was causing stigma," said Dr. Lale Say, coordinator of WHO's Adolescents and at-Risk Populations team. "So in order to reduce the stigma while also ensuring access to necessary health interventions, this was placed in a different chapter."

So what else is a sexual health condition from what I could gather we are grouped with; Sexual dysfunctions, Female Genital Mutilation, STDs & STIs, and Adrenogenital disorders.

While many believe gender incongruence shouldn't be classified in the ICD at all, others argue that it's easier for transgender people to seek hormonal or surgical treatment if gender incongruence is included, Conti said.

According to the WHO, "there remain significant health care needs that can best be met if the condition is coded under the ICD."

I am of the camp that believes that it was right to remove us from “mental disorders” and we had to be coded somewhere in order to get health insurance coverage (if there is no code then there can be no billing) and moving us to “Sexual Health” is a step in the right direction.

"By changing the class of this condition, the WHO is effectively saying to everyone and to the world that this is not a mental disorder and we support people who are transgender," Conti said. "It’s a really meaningful step because it promotes inclusivity, it promotes acceptance."