Tuesday, January 3, 2017
As one of the first countries in the world, Denmark has removed transsexuality from the list of mental illnesses. Will the World Health Organization follow?
Born with the wrong sex: Since this year, transsexuals are no longer classified as mentally ill in Denmark. The health authority deleted the term from 1 January of the list of mental sufferings. This means that the country is one of the exceptions worldwide - alongside France, where transsexuals are no longer regarded as mentally ill since 2010.
Many people concerned felt the classification was discriminatory, explained the Danish Ministry of Health. Therefore, transsexuality was now formally assigned to another category. This does not alter the treatment possibilities for people who prefer to belong to the other sex. In order to be able to undergo a gender transformation or a hormonal treatment, transsexuals must undergo long, psychological examinations.