Diagnostic and Statistic Manual: UPDATED

FROM NCSF: AN IMPORTANT PETITION!
(National Coalition for Sexual Freedom)

The American Psychiatric Association has formed working committees to revise by 2011 its Diagnostic and Statistic Manual (DSM), the definitive resource on the Diagnostic Criteria for all mental disorders. Statements currently within the DSM Paraphilias criteria include things such as exhibitionism, voyeurism, SM, and others, that are contradicted by scientific evidence (for example, it says that there are 20 male masochists for every female masochist - and*no* female sadists, exhibitionists, etc.!). Therefore NCSF concluded that the interpretation of the Paraphilias criteria has been politically – not scientifically – based. This politically motivated interpretation subjects BDSM practitioners, fetishists and cross-dressers to bias, discrimination and social sanctions without any scientific basis. Thus, NCSF is calling on the American Psychiatric Association to remove or drastically restructure the Paraphilias section in the DSM.

A white paper on the DSM Revision is located here.

To help fight for this, there is a petition that has just been started. It says "We, the undersigned, support the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) own goal of making its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) a scientific document, based on empirical research and devoid of cultural bias. A diagnosis of a mental disorder can have a severe adverse impact on employment opportunities, child custody determinations, an individual's well-being, and other areas of functioning. Therefore we urge the APA to remove all diagnoses that are not based upon peer-reviewed, empirical research, demonstrating distress or dysfunction, from the DSM. The APA specifically should not promote current social norms or values as a basis for clinical judgments."

As you see, it isn't even specifically about being kinky - just about doing what is right. The PETITION. You can sign it and have your name kept anonymous except for verifying that there are no duplicates, and your contact information will not be released irregardless. After all, being kinky isn't crazy!