FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2008
Contact: Jenn Burleton, Executive Director
Phone: 503-252-3000
Email: jenn@transactiveonline.org
Website: www.transactiveonline.org
Kenneth Zucker & The DSM-V Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Workgroup
by Jenn Burleton
Portland, Oregon, May 27, 2008 - Dr. Kenneth Zucker’s theories about the authenticity of transgender identity in children & youth are well-known, particularly to those of us who specialize in working with transgender and gender non-conforming children, youth and their families. He stands behind the notion that, in the vast majority of cases, childhood gender non-conformity is nothing more than an indicator or ‘warning sign’ of future homosexual orientation by a child or adolescent. Many transgender & gender non-conforming children already suffer from feelings of depression, anxiety, self-destructive behavior and low self-esteem as a consequence of parental and societal disapproval of their gender identity expression. In fact, current statistics indicate that at least 50% of transgender children ideate suicide. These children, if treated by Dr. Zucker and others who agree with him, are then subjected to further cissexist oppression and rejection of their core gender identity.
Dr. Zucker has gone so far as to offer his so-called ‘expert’ testimony about the legitimacy of childhood transgender identity in custody cases where one parent is opposed to the other parent’s support and recognition of their child’s transgender identity. His testimony is usually given on behalf of the parent who is in opposition.
In a recent story on National Public Radio, Kenneth Zucker is quoted as saying; “Most of the kids we are seeing are saying they want to be the opposite sex,” Zucker says “To me, that’s saying they are unhappy with a basic part of themselves… If the sine qua non of a disorder is distress, I think it is a disorder in the sense of being unhappy about who they are.”
This statement illustrates Zucker’s inability to grasp or respect transgender identity as an independent, core identity. While the children may be “saying they want to be the opposite sex”, what they are feeling is that they already have a gender identity that is, to one degree or another, in conflict with their assigned sex and externally perceived gender identity. For Zucker to say that he believes these courageous children are unhappy with themselves further indicates his misguided position that the problem lies with the child, rather than with a misogynistic and cissexist society’s treatment of that child.
Based upon the very name of the work group Dr. Zucker has been selected to Chair, he seems to be exceedingly unqualified to play a key role in revising and defining the guidelines that will be used for years to come in treating transgender and gender non-conforming children and youth. Transgender identity is not a “sexual disorder”, as gender identity and sexual orientation/function are two different things. And since Dr. Zucker, for the most part, rejects the concept of Gender Identity Dysphoria (GID) in children and youth as nothing more than pre-homosexual behavior, he is an odd helmsman for a ship he doesn’t believe exists.
Dr. Kenneth Zucker’s appointment to this committee, along with that of his associate Dr. Ray Blanchard will, in my opinion, contribute to a continuance and possibly strengthened renewal of destructive therapeutic treatment or, more specifically, non-treatment of our most precious transgender and gender non-conforming children and youth.
He is to childhood gender identity care what Joseph McCarthy was to patriotism.
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