What do we talk about when we talk about depathologisation?

Pathologising people means seeing them as if they have a disease, and using this as a reason to limit their rights. Even when there’s nothing to fix in them.
For trans people, pathologisation happens through a large series of medical, social process that are interlinked with legal processes.

On the other hand, depathologisation means trans people are no longer considered as having a disorder, nor having their rights limited because of that.
Still not clear? Think of depathologisation as a path. A path to trans justice.

Watch this video campaign by the ILGA World Trans Steering Committee on the occasion of this year's International Day of Action for Trans Depathologisation!

Accessibility:

subtitles available in English and Spanish. Follow this link to access a transcription of the video

Video transcription

voice off:

Depathl… depathol... depat... Ok, let’s try again: de-pa-tho-lo-gi-sa-tion.

Chamindra Weerawardhana, Consultant - GIESC Programme, ILGA World:

We know we can struggle to pronounce the word, and you may even wonder what this is about.

Pathologising people means seeing them as if they have a disease,
and using this as a reason to limit their rights. Even when there’s nothing to fix in them.

For trans people, pathologisation happens through a large series of medical and social process that are interlinked with legal processes.

Like requiring a psychiatric diagnosis to access specific healthcare, or forcing us to undergo medical interventions before our identity documents can reflect our gender correctly. The list goes on.

Depathologisation means trans people are no longer considered as having a disorder, nor having their rights limited because of that.

Still not clear? Think of depathologisation as a path.
 A path to trans justice.

Hazel T. Mokgathi, GIESC Programme Intern, ILGA World:

In 2019, the World Health Organisation adopted the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases.

All trans-related categories were removed from the chapter on mental and behavioral disorders.

This is a big deal: the WHO ruled that being a trans or gender diverse person does not mean to suffer a mental disorder.

But the work to depathologise trans and gender diverse lives is far from complete, and it is a human rights issue.

The ICD-11 still speaks of gender incongruence of childhood, and of adolescence and adulthood.

In many countries, trans persons still face hurdles to access the healthcare they need, and to see their identity recognised without going through psychological assessments, or medical, legal and judiciary ordeals.

In some places, pathologising paths are the only ones available for trans persons to change their name and gender marker in official documents.

Fighting for depathologisation is a fight for equality.

Barbara Wangare, ILGA World Trans Steering Committee representative for Africa: 

But pathologisation is also a social issue.

Until society will continue to see trans people as having a disorder, violence will continue. Discrimination will continue.

And we know how deadly transphobia can be.

If you are a trans person, remember: there is nothing wrong with who you are. Be proud of yourself!

Susan Gapka, ILGA World Trans Steering Committee representative for North America and the Caribbean: 

So, how do we change this, and create a more affirming world?

The legal, medical, and psychiatric institutions still criminalise us in many parts of the world, turning us into rebellious outcasts and outlaws.

We ourselves can change these structures, and reduce barriers to legal rights, affirming healthcare, and collaborative mental health and wellness outcomes.

Wannapong (Nhuun) Yodmuang, ILGA World Trans Steering Committee representative for Asia

Things are moving forward, we know, but there are still key issues that need to be addressed.

In relation to the new categories of “gender incongruence” in the International Classification of Diseases documents, aka the ICD-11: what does that mean for transgender people?

We need to unpack the term, and also see how this is translated into country-level regulations.

Meanwhile, the anti-gender movement is growing around the world, at all levels.

We know this is a lot to face, but you are not alone. We are here to support one another.

Hazel T. Mokgathi, GIESC Programme Intern, ILGA World:

Also, trans people are not the only ones fighting against pathologisation.

Considering people as in need to be fixed has brought about unnecessary surgeries on intersex children without their full and informed consent, ‘conversion therapy’, and many other forms of torture and ill-treatment.

Healthcare should look different than this, and we should all be together in this fight.

Sentences appear on screen, reading:

De-psycho-pathologise!
Fight for Equality
Be Proud.
Shape an Affirming world.
Build Traction.
Fight for Healthcare.
DEPATH.

ILGA World on the International Day of Action for Trans Depathologisation.
Video edited by My Genderation.