Until recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified transgender people as mentally ill, but not anymore. The WHO re-classified transgender identity as a sexual health condition in June.
Transgender refers to people whose sense of personal identity and gender does not correspond with their birth sex.
The WHO says transgender identity was moved out of the mental disorders chapter and into the sexual health chapter because the organisation had a better understanding that it wasn’t actually a mental health condition and leaving it in the mental disorders chapter was causing stigma.
The LGBTQ community in Bhutan hailed the move.
Doreyon Phuntsho is gay. He is a Secretariat Member of Rainbow Bhutan, an LGBTQ community in the country.
He says at present the Bhutanese society acknowledges the LGBTQ community, but when it comes to acceptance, there is still a long road ahead.
Now, with the classification of transgender identity as a sexual health condition and not a mental illness by the WHO, Doreyon Phuntsho hopes the situation will improve.
But he added while it will help to promote inclusivity and acceptance of LGBTQ community, the change in attitudes towards them will certainly not happen overnight.
“I feel it will take some time for the people to get used to the fact that being transgender is not being mentally ill,” Doreyon Phuntsho said.
“For instance, homosexuality was also listed as a mental illness in 1968. It took them five years to remove it from the list and another 15 years to completely accept the idea that homosexuality is not a mental illness. So, I feel it might also be the same for the transgender. Hopefully, it might not take as long but it’s definitely going to take some time.”
The declassification of transgender people as mentally ill will also make it easier for the transgender people to access necessary health care services and interventions, says Doreyon Phuntsho.
“It will open up a lot of opportunities for the transgender people to undergo hormonal therapy and sex reassignment,” he said.
It is also expected to give dignity and respect to them who are often subjected to discrimination and ridicule.
