Tiny victory for French transgender community

[WillParkinson]

Tiny victory for French transgender community
By Ruth Schneider, 365gay.com
03.03.2010 9:00am EST

The transgender community in France won a small victory last month as the nation took transsexualism from the official list of mental disorders – the first nation in the world to make such a move.

According to Time magazine, the move is just the beginning. In practice, French transsexuals said, the move won’t make much a difference with regard to medical and legal rights.

“It’s a symbolic victory,” Georges-Louis Tin told Time. He is president of the Paris-based IDAHO group, which fights homophobia and transphobia. “Transsexuals are no longer mentally ill. They’re normal citizens. But we haven’t yet reached the point where they’re allowed to make their own decisions instead of depending on doctors and psychiatrists.”

France’s health care system does cover sex-change surgeries and treatments are covered by the state, but patients said they have little choice in selecting their doctor. Many cross the Belgian border, where doctors specialize in sex-change surgery, but where the cost is higher.


http://www.365gay.com/news/tiny-victory-for-french-transgender-community/

[frebrd]

1. I guess a tiny victory is better than none. eom