Posted on May 16, 2017
Has the military opened the door to overturning medical discharges and retirements?
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With the announcement that the military has begun to support openly transgender Service members, and in fact aid them in their "transformation", does anyone believe that this opens the door for people who were given the boot for mental health reasons to overturn those discharges/retirements? The AMA defines transgenderism as a mental disorder, just like PTSD, bipolar, depression, et cetera.
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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They renamed gender identity disorder to gender dysphoria for a very specific reason. "It replaces the diagnostic name “gender identity disorder” with “gender dysphoria,” as well as makes other important clarifications in the criteria. It is important to note that gender nonconformity is not in itself a mental disorder. The critical element of gender dysphoria is the presence of clinically significant distress associated with the condition."
They specifically took out the word disorder because transgender people aren't "disordered." So it's not seen as a mental disorder according to DSM-5.
Since it is technically not classified as a mental disorder anymore, then no it wouldn't open the door for people who got discharged for mental health reasons for getting those overturned.
WHO considers it a mental illness still but that will change with ICD 11 in 2018. But the American Psychiatric Association does not and they publish the DSM manuals.
Also gender nonconforming is not the same thing and is not a mental illness either.
They specifically took out the word disorder because transgender people aren't "disordered." So it's not seen as a mental disorder according to DSM-5.
Since it is technically not classified as a mental disorder anymore, then no it wouldn't open the door for people who got discharged for mental health reasons for getting those overturned.
WHO considers it a mental illness still but that will change with ICD 11 in 2018. But the American Psychiatric Association does not and they publish the DSM manuals.
Also gender nonconforming is not the same thing and is not a mental illness either.
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SGT Joseph Gunderson
I'm not doctor, this fact is evident, but something about the change to the manuals seems far more political than actual medical fact. I can't see how someone believing they are what they aren't being anything short of a mental illness. If I believe that I am actually a chicken then there is something wrong with my noodle. But I understand what you have said.
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Your followup seems to focus on the singular topic of transgenderism. If you want to discuss other reasons for a medical discharge getting waived to enable reenlistment, ask again.
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SGT Joseph Gunderson
I'm saying that the ability of transgender to openly serve without any repercussions seems like it could open the door for people that have been forced out based on mental/behavioral health issues. I'm asking if anyone else thinks that it might open this can of worms as well. The question I asked is what I want people to discuss. There is no anterior motive to the question, friend.
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SCPO (Join to see)
SGT Joseph Gunderson - I'm sure it would since it's a can of worms in a class all its own.
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