DSM-V & Kenneth Zucker

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TransActive Education & Advocacy strongly opposes the appointment of
Dr. Kenneth Zucker to Chair the Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders
work group that will revise and develop the fifth edition
of the American Psychiatric Association's (APA)
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (DSM-V).

This position is based upon his approach to clinical treatment of
transgender and gender non-conforming identity in children & youth.

Portland, OR. (May 9, 2008) - On May 1, 2008 the American Psychiatric Association (APA) released the names of those appointed to the work groups that will revise and develop the fifth edition of the APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). Dr. Kenneth Zucker, who heads up the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Ontario, Canada has been selected to Chair the Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders work group.

TransActive strongly opposes the appointment of Dr. Kenneth Zucker to Chair the Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders work group that will revise and develop the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). This position is based upon his approach to clinical treatment of transgender and gender non-conforming identity in children & youth.

Dr. Zucker, along with colleagues Dr. Ray Blanchard (also appointed to the DSM-V workgroup) and Dr. J. Michael Bailey are proponents of the theory that, in the vast majority of cases, gender non-conforming identity in children and youth is merely an indicator of an eventual homosexual identity in adulthood.

In a recent interview broadcast on National Public Radio (NPR), Dr. Zucker said:

“Suppose you were a clinician and a 4-year-old black kid came into your office and said he wanted to be white. Would you go with that? ... I don't think we would.”

This cavalier equating of racial identity to gender identity clearly illustrates his belief that transgender identity in children & youth is nothing more than a delusional and unrealistic fantasy.

Zucker says: "It is legitimate for parents to establish limits for their children on cross-gender behaviors. If not, the behavior is, in effect, being reinforced."

Dr. Zucker chooses to see parental support for their child's innate sense of their own gender identity as a "reinforcement of cross-gender behaviors." Again his distinctly cissexist consideration of transgender identity in children and youth as a 'behavior-centric" issue rather than an core identity issue is deeply troubling.

Zucker further believes that transgender children and youth should only be considered for puberty delaying or cross-gender hormonal treatment if they prove resistant to psychosexual treatment. This is another clear indication that Dr. Zucker does not recognize the inherent difference between gender identity and sexual orientation.

Note: A psychosexual disorder refers to a sexual problem that is psychological rather than physiological.

Zucker has stated that a secure gender identity possibly prevents the development of later homosexuality. This raised several red flags for those of us who work with gender non-conforming children, youth and their families. TransActive's position is that "prevention of homosexuality" should not be the concern of childhood gender identity specialists.

The second and perhaps most troubling red flag is the assumption that transgender children and youth are insecure in their gender identity. This is a cissexist notion that has historically done much damage to our gender non-conforming children and is particularly of concern when expressed by the currently appointed Chair of the work group that will be developing the DSM-V.

All of the children and youth that TransActive has worked directly with are not the least bit insecure about their own gender identity. The insecurity, if any exists, comes not from within, but from their fear of how those who fail to understand them will react. We believe that Dr. Kenneth Zucker and colleagues of his such as Blanchard, Bailey, George Rekers, Warren Throckmorton and Joseph Nicolosi are some of the people these children and their families have reason to fear.

On behalf of the children, youth and families we serve, and transgender and gender non-conforming children and youth everywhere, TransActive Education & Advocacy stands opposed to the appointment of Dr. Kenneth Zucker as Chair and Dr. Ray Blanchard as a member of the Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders work group.

Jenn Burleton
Executive Director
TransActive Education & Advocacy