Transsexualism no longer a "mental illness" in France

To coincide with the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) on May 17, the French minister of health, Roselyne Bachelot announced at the weekend that transsexualism in France would no longer be considered a mental disorder.

In an interview with the national daily Libération, Bachelot said that she had received agreement from the rest of the government that transsexualism would "no longer be classified as a long-term psychiatric illness."

"This declassification doesn't mean there won't be the need for a medical diagnosis in determining issues involved (for an individual) in gender identity, nor abandoning complementary counselling," she said.

"But it's a very clear signal addressed towards the whole of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community and is also an emblematic measure that will help fight against transphobia."

Indeed the announcement of the change couldn't have been more timely, coming as it did on Saturday - the eve of IDAHO, which here in France had as its focal point the fight against transphobia.

Up until now transsexuals or those with gender identity issues have able to receive therapy only under conditions which define them as "requiring treatment for a psychiatric illness".

There has been access to long-term therapy which many in the LGBT community in France have considered to be discriminatory, stigmatising and meaning transsexual men and women being "virtually taken hostage by the psychiatric community because the 'condition' was considered as such."

In effect, Bachelot's announcement means that transsexualism will no longer be treated as a mental illness in France.

And it's one which went further than many who had been pressing for a change had expected and was one of historic proportions as far as Joël Bedos, the general secretary of Idaho here in France, was concerned.

"It's one that gives an explosion of hope for transsexual men and women throughout the world," he said.

"And it makes France the first country (in Europe) to take such a decision."