BY FRANCESCA LEWIS

Lesbian.com

Borderline Personality Disorder is very common. One in twenty people in the US have a diagnosis, and studies have suggested that it is even more prevalent in the queer community. Yet it is one of the most stigmatized and least understood mental health conditions out there, with even clinicians struggling to understand and relate to patients. This matters to me, because I was diagnosed with BPD five years ago. I have a complicated relationship with my diagnosis and the inherent biases in the DSM, but I do identify with the struggles – and strengths – that the condition defines.

After recently watching the new Kristen Wiig movie, Welcome to Me, I began to think about representations of BPD in the media and how they don’t exactly match up with what I have experienced. On the one hand it’s an awesome movie – offbeat, funny, with Wiig in fine form, riding that line between silliness and pathos she does so well. On the other hand, well, it’s another in a long line of simplistic portrayals of the “bad borderline” who lacks empathy, is selfish, and is incapable of change. It is more nuanced than the bunny boiler or the out-of-control party girl we usually see, but this is still a black and white portrayal of the illness – rather apt, considering black and white thinking is a key symptom of BPD. In this climate of mental health awareness campaigns and neurodiversity, where conditions like autism are being destigmatized and embraced, this seems unfair.

Queer feminist writer and academic Merri Lisa Johnson, whose memoir Girl In Need Of A Touniquet explores her own experiences with borderline personality disorder, also had some opinions of the movie. She and I had a fascinating conversation about BPD, Welcome to Me and the radical new Neuroqueer theory we are both fascinated by…

As a person with BPD and a feminist who’s interested in pop culture’s complicated relationship with difficult women, what were you expecting from Welcome to Me and how did it conform to and differ from those expectations?

Any time I see a reference to borderline personality disorder, I have two opposite feelings at the same time: ooh, cool! And oh no. I want to see BPD represented, so the first part of my response is eagerness to see more, and more varied, representations of an illness category that I have identified with in my own work, despite the massive stigma attached to it. The second part is my fear that another representation will not necessarily mean a good, useful, or illuminating representation. The title alone gave reason for caution, and I winced a little at the self-involvement it promised. The main character is difficult in ways I could not intuitively understand.

I was very impressed with how the film fully captures the all-encompassing nature of BPD, how it is within the very fabric of a person’s being, very much a defining feature of their personality. Unfortunately, this made the film’s redemption narrative, in which she gives away all her money to her more “deserving” mentally healthy friend, ring pretty false and seem very stigmatizing and unfair. Can we have a satisfying Hollywood ending without humbling or punishing the crazy girl?

One way to look at her gesture of giving away seven million dollars is as an example of how little Alice changes in the film. It is a simplistic resolution of her relationship to her friend, Gina, but it is the kind of simplistic–and impulsive–resolution that vibes borderline. The screenplay writer, Eliot Laurence, says (in an interview with Writers Guild of America, West) that he wanted to be realistic in creating an ending where the protagonist has changed, but not much. I think she should have kept her money. But I don’t resent the plot trajectory toward humbling the character. Facing life experiences that bring humility is an important part of adulthood for everyone. It is right for her to atone for being insensitive, but writing a check skips the hard work of changing in subtler and more permanent ways.

Some mental health advocates are calling for a “neuroqueer” view of mental illness, in which brain differences are just differences, much like being gay or transgender, and ought not to be stigmatized. This is closer to how I currently view my own diagnosis. Do you subscribe to this idea and, if so, do you think Welcome to Me would have benefited from applying it?

My current project attempts to explore the idea of approaching BPD from a neuroqueer perspective, as a vibrant and unique way of being in the world, akin to work among autism theorists who reject a focus on curing or masking autism. I say “attempts to explore” because I am stuck right now. I read a short piece by feminist theorist Susan Cahn recently that described personality disorders as defects of character, not mental illnesses. I am stung by the distinction and still mulling it over.

This film is missing the strengths of BPD. Alice lacks interpersonal charm and creative vision. Alice is all deficits and no gifts. A neuroqueer depiction might balance this ratio a bit more.

The film is the only significant portrayal of BPD we’ve seen on screen since 1999’s Girl, Interrupted (itself an incomplete and somewhat problematic portrayal) and since the condition is so common and yet so misunderstood, this is unacceptable. Do you think we’re due for a mental health revolution, similar to those we’ve recently seen in LGBT rights and feminism? What adjustments would have to be made in the popular consciousness to allow this to happen?

A New York Times article in January 2014 called for “more granular language” in talking about mental illness and urged the public to renounce the generalizing phrase, “mental illness.” I was drawn to this idea and dismayed, though not surprised, to see others shouting it down on Facebook. There is a thick wall of defensiveness among those who identify as mentally healthy against the idea that the boundary between them and “the mentally ill” may be porous or perhaps even fictional.

The popular consciousness needs to know more about BPD than what is in the DSM. Instead of a character defect, researchers have proposed a biological/neurological basis for BPD and reframed it as an anxiety disorder or even an atypical form of bipolar disorder. It would be useful to see those proposals and debates find a wider audience.

The post BPD, Neuroqueer & Stigma: A Discussion with Merri Lisa Johnson first appeared on Lesbian.com.

We all know that person who dreaded turning 30, turning 40 or maybe it was 50. Why? What makes 39 years and 364 days so very different than three days later at 40 years and two days old? What if this importance is simply a stigma that entirely too many women have bought into between magazine reading and TV watching?

What if, instead of obsessing over those fine lines no one else seems to notice or milling over that arbitrary goal set a year before graduation, we celebrated our past accomplishments, our present gifts and our future opportunities? And don’t get me started on earned wisdom.

THE NOW
Sure, it’s human nature to get caught up in the tug of war of the past and the future. However, consciously choosing to be present, taking hold of the now and fucking rocking today allows you an unequaled freedom.

So what if, just for today, you were ageless, feeling the sunshine on your face, noticing the crystal blue of your partner’s eyes or enjoying that lovable dog smile of your faithful companion.

THE THEN
As for as the pitfalls, the mistakes, the downers haunting your past? Learn from your life’s lessons, including those happening now. Any frustrations or anger you’re feeling are there to clarify desires and get you moving in the right direction.

THE BODY
Now about those physical imperfections? Know this, people don’t see you in pieces (except for you and maybe your mother). Everyone else tends to see you as a whole person, which is great, because you’re so much more than feet or hair. So instead of focusing on a thicker middle, perhaps consider appreciating those long, lean legs of yours that tote you around. Instead of focusing on that little lack of elastic in your upper arm region, appreciate your full, thick head of luscious hair. You get the idea.

THE ASSIGNMENT
Yes, I’m asking for radical self acceptance. And perhaps, I’m even encouraging you to reflect on everything right with you. Gasp. So, here’s your assignment for the week. Go to a park to sip some freshly brewed iced tea, freshly made lemonade or sparkling water, then make some lists.

• List what you love about yourself. If you’re not up to at least 40 yet find yourself stuck, text your closest friends and family. Not only is it helpful, it’s life affirming.

• List your accomplishments up until this point, including winning the spelling bee in grade two. One hundred sounds nice. What? You’re an amazing woman who has achieved and shared so much. You got this.
• Take time to write down a few things in your life you’re grateful for. This list can be as long as you want to make it, because being alive is good, it definitely gives you a starting point for the next exercise.
• Just to even things out, consider writing a few goals down. They don’t even have to be measurable, but they do have to be specific. If your goal is that you “want to be happy,” then take a moment to define what being happy feels like for you and what you can do to see more of that in your days. Now, write that down.

Be sure to leave a comment, tweet or Facebook me to let me know a goal, an accomplishment or something you’re grateful for. Until next time, be sure to love yourself and those around you.

Miki Markovich is a seeker of beauty and truth, traveler of interesting roads, saver of furry souls, typer of words, iPhone lover and mac head. You can find her on Twitter at @mikimarkovich and @fiveminutezen. If you’re looking to go from pissed to blissed in five minutes flat, find balance or improve the quality of your life through self care, check out her website at fiveminutezen.com.

The post The zen of aging and the power of now first appeared on Lesbian.com.

As details continue to emerge in the tragic suicide death of Robin Williams, it occurs to me that one of the things that makes depression so insidious is the stigma (and – judging by some of the reactions surfacing in the media, social or otherwise – ignorance) which surrounds the disease.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my almost 53-years, it’s that there is very little in this human experience that is truly unique – and yet many continue to suffer alone with their challenges, whether that be depression, mental illness or something else – because we are embarrassed, believing our feelings, thoughts or circumstances are exclusive to us. We view others’ lives as more perfect, more in control, more successful; simply put – happier.

We’re embarrassed to reveal our weaknesses, our imperfections for fear of embarrassment or ridicule. So we bottle them inside and our insecurities and negative thoughts become the stuff of which sleepless nights are made and those sleepless nights amplify the insecurities and negative thoughts and the downward spiral continues until those destructive thoughts become our only – and seemingly inescapable – reality.

Taking a cue from an acquaintance who “came out” on Facebook regarding her own struggles with depression, I’m going to take one tiny step toward dispelling the stigma and ignorance of the disease by sharing that I, too, went through a time about four years ago where I required therapy and medication to recover from a period of depression. While I never want to be in that murky, irrational, hopeless place again – nor would I ever wish it upon anyone else – I can say that it provided me with insight I’d not previously had regarding the disease.

We can read all the “10 things not to say to someone who’s depressed” or “5 differences between being sad vs. being depressed” or “10 ways to support someone who’s depressed” articles we want, but – much like child birth – unless someone has actually been there, it is impossible to fully comprehend how the mind functions while afflicted – how alone, how angry one feels; how insurmountable the situation seems; how nonsensical our thought processes become.

I don’t presume that my experience with depression is universal; I feel quite fortunate in that my episode was “event-induced” and fairly easily overcome. (My recovery was actually far shorter in duration than was my initial suffering as I waited ten months to seek help.) I know that there are nuances to each person’s experience and, sadly, some struggle a lifetime with the disease. But I want to share some of the signs I should have seen as I sank further into the abyss four years ago.

Please bear in mind that I do not purport to be a mental health or medical professional of any sort and the list below doesn’t constitute an official “are you depressed?” litmus test. That said, if you see yourself feeling or thinking or experiencing several of these things and you aren’t already talking to a therapist or doctor, please consider doing so.

“It’s everyone else!”

What I mean here is that as things progressively worsened for me, I found myself with an increasingly short fuse and blaming everyone else for every confrontation. Already not the most passive driver or best sufferer of fools, my tolerance for the even the tiniest mistake or act of incompetence on the part of someone else set me off. I was angry all the time – less patient with co-workers, more likely to lay on the horn for any perceived traffic infraction and far more apt to storm out of a line at the post office or grocery store grousing about ineptitude. Once restored to my more rational self via the wonders of modern medicine, it became crystal clear to me that at any point in one’s life when it appears everyone else is wrong all the time, there is a problem. Because “everyone else” can’t be wrong all of the time. It just doesn’t work that way. The problem was me; I just couldn’t see it.

“Sleep, you are not my friend.”

Or rather, sleep was a friend who abandoned me in my hour of greatest need. I went weeks – probably months – without getting more than a few hours of sleep at night. While some may think that the fast track to productivity, it’s also the express train to hopelessness. My most memorably miserable moments all seem to have occurred between 2am and 5am, for during those hours my mind would shift into overdrive, churning with questions to which I had (and, really, there were) no answers, thoughts of “woulda, coulda, shoulda” haunted me and, as I approached Full-blown Depression Depot, thoughts of ending it all in some form or fashion crept into my consciousness.

If you’re single, there are few times more lonely than 2am to 5am, regardless of the coast on which you reside. I found myself not wanting to “bother” my friends with a call, either due to the late hour or because they’d already heard my rehashing of events too many times to recount. (I should explain that my depression was triggered by the end of an 8-year relationship.) Mostly, though, I knew that there was nothing they could say to make me feel better – if that were possible, they’d already have said it. The standard issue advice – just give it time, you’ll get over her; she wasn’t good for you anyway; you deserve better – just doesn’t register when you’re depressed

In reality, when your mind, and hence your emotions, are completely out of whack, off kilter due to the chemical imbalance that is depression, nothing makes sense; there are no answers and there is no hope. Yet, at least in my case, my mind worked overtime to pose the questions over and over and over again and to search for answers that didn’t exist. As a result, I didn’t get the precious sleep that I needed then, more than ever. And that only made things worse.

“Tears fall like rain.”

Already a sap known to cry at everything from lesson-laced sitcoms to major sporting event outcomes, my tear ducts shifted into high gear as I slipped further into the depression. How I, a normally rather rational individual, didn’t realize that it simply wasn’t “normal” to wake up every morning and cry in the shower, or for a simple work-related question from a colleague to trigger tears, is beyond me now. But I cried morning, noon and night, again with those frustrating hours of 2am to 5am seeming to be my most prolific.

I cried because I felt angry; I cried because I felt sad; I cried for seemingly no reason at all. And many times, particularly late at night, the crying wasn’t of the gentle spring rain variety – it was the torrential downpour of agony, a wailing inspired by an emotional pain so deep, so unrelenting, and – perhaps most revealing of an issue – so completely unrelated to anything that was actually happening in my life at the moment. Unless you’re suffering from a hormonal imbalance of some sort, when you’re sobbing uncontrollably at 3am countless nights in a row for no apparent reason, there’s a problem.

“They’d be better off without me.”

This is where things get really dark and dangerous. In my irrational state, I actually started to enumerate the ways in which those around me would be better served should I no longer exist on the planet. My status as a mom served double-duty here – one minute I was thinking about how my son would be set for life financially if I were to kill myself (making it appear as an accident, of course, so as not to void my life insurance policy) and the next I was thinking how terrible it would be to burden him with the task of clearing out the garage by himself if I went through with it. Mind you, I wasn’t considering how upset he might be that his mom was gone – I’d discounted my own worth sufficiently by then so as not to factor that into the equation at that point – but rather I fretted about inconveniencing him with a day’s work of sorting and purging.

If we’re honest, there’s probably not one of us who doesn’t reach a certain age without having had a momentary thought about suicide. It’s one of those things that, as humans, may flit through our minds quickly, but never truly takes root. But when I was depressed, that thought settled in and made itself comfortable. It branched out from a late night notion about over the counter sleeping medications to broad daylight impulses to gun the engine of my Mustang and point it toward the closest and sturdiest roadside obstacle. And it was on the heels of such a thought that I made a beeline to my general practitioner’s office, unannounced and without an appointment. I’d perhaps not yet hit rock bottom, but I knew if I stretched out my toes it was within reach. I remain thankful that she and her staff welcomed and consoled me that day and set me on the path to recovery.

So those are the notes from my depression story. Yes, the woman many know as the life of the party with the huge smile and the quick one-liners has come out as once having been clinically depressed. Some may find it more surprising than the fact that I was married (to a man) for 11 years, and honestly, it’s a secret I’ve kept from far more people than I have my sexual orientation.

I share these bits of my personal story not to garner sympathy or accolades, but rather with the hope that someone may recognize herself in the reflection of my experience and seek help as a result. If you’re going through a rough time, reach out to a friend or a relative; talk to your doctor; call a suicide hotline. It doesn’t matter what time of the day or night it is, there is always someone to talk to somewhere. And while true depression cannot be healed by mere words – there’s no “cheer up” pep talk to overcome the chemical imbalance – those words may be just enough of a lifeline to hold you over until you can get the help you need.

Most importantly, please remember – regardless of what your irrational mind may be telling you at the moment – you are not alone; you are not weak; what you’re feeling is not permanent; you are loved; and you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed about in seeking help. All you have to do is “come out” about your disease.

You can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255. Their phones are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The post ‘Coming out’ to erase the stigma of depression first appeared on Lesbian.com.

It’s doubtful that you’ll find anyone who doesn’t think finding herself smack dab in the middle of a crisis is anything less than hideous. It may be a heart-wrenching break-up, the loss of a job or a 72-hour notice to move out of your home. You can be torn between completely giving up and totally fighting your ass off. Either way, it’s exhausting. But here’s the thing, this is exactly when you must be kind to yourself.

SELF CARE
It may very well be impossible to think about smiling right now, which is exactly why we’re not even going there. However, I do want you to keep the faith and to build a little arsenal of items that make you feel, well, more like the happy you.

Recently, I faced something rather vile, actually one of my greatest fears. The situation I found myself tangled in had the potential to completely change my life in the most dire of ways. Yet, even through the chaos and fear, I realized my daily life had to go on.

The first thing I did was cancel my lunch plans. I let my friends know how much I valued them, but that I had to work my way through an unfortunate crisis and I wasn’t feeling myself. I was merely a matter of fact without sharing details. I just wasn’t up to being good company. My friends? We’ll they completely understood and were wonderfully supportive. There are no right or wrong answers here. If find yourself wanting to be around more people, then by all mean, fill your dance card.

ROCK THE ACCESSORIES
Let your senses guide you back to your true self. Consider introducing a little extra softness in your day. This may mean bringing a cushion to the office to make your work chair the envy of everyone on your floor, getting some gel insole inserts for your favorite shoes, choosing a cashmere sweater or upgrading your toilet paper selection. Just this reprieve can help get you through the day, especially when paired with other little things. While working through my own storm, I exclusively use Le Pens (my favorite), kept sweet orange oil at my desk and continuously pulled out and used my favorite scented lotions.

GRATITUDE
I’ll be the first one to admit that this can be challenging in the midst of basic survival. In fact, as much as I tried, I wasn’t able to do this successfully for a while. But then I began to realize that I was grateful for the people in my life. I was also grateful to be mentally and physically sound, knowing that this surely raised my chances of getting through the mire. And then I realized that whether or not I liked any of them, I did have choices and even some resources. After this realization, the floodgates opened and everything was easier. Things even started falling into place.

CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE
Perspective is key. Shine as much sunlight as you can on the situation. Move it around, check the angles. If you were the PR pro in charge of your life, consider how would you spin it? Be your own best advocate.

As always, I’d love to hear your ideas. And, if you need to borrow a smile, just send me a message on Facebook or Twitter. Until then, best wishes today and always.

Miki Markovich is a seeker of beauty and truth, traveler of interesting roads, saver of furry souls, typer of words, iPhone lover and mac head. You can find her on Twitter at @mikimarkovich and @fiveminutezen. If you’re looking to go from pissed to blissed in five minutes flat, find balance or improve the quality of your life through self care, check out her website at fiveminutezen.com.

The post Managing crisis: The blog I hope you never need first appeared on Lesbian.com.

I think we all have those days. You know, the ones where we wake up on the wrong side of the bed for no reason at all. Or perhaps we’ve had the same ego-crushing argument with our beloved as we’ve had a hundred times before. Maybe there was a major kink in our big plan or that annoying coworker simply won’t stop talking. It doesn’t even matter how we got to this place. What does matter is our ability to elevate ourselves to a higher emotional state.

Sometimes you can go from pissed to blissed in five minutes flat. Other times you have to shift yourself one level at a time. The goal? To get happy, baby. Below are a few tips that I’ve learned on my own journey.

Aromatherapy
Carry a small bottle of essential oil with you. When you feel a funk coming on, crack it open and take a deep breath. Scents influence brain activity. You may know that lavender calms emotions, but did you know that lemon and jasmine have some of the same properties? In fact, lemon is known to calm and sharpen focus. Jasmine increases optimism as it calms. I tend to carry both orange and lime essential oils with me. They simply make me happy.

Escape
Sometimes taking a drive on a sunny day, parking at a place with a view and watching a bit of your favorite show on your tablet and just being can go a long way in getting back to your true self. Whether it’s 15-minutes watching that Italian flick your friends just aren’t into or an old episode of “Will and Grace,” make it about you.

Gratitude
Gratitude is a powerful force. Not only can it give you an immediate shot of joy, when practiced regularly, it has some long term health benefits. So, why not call up your sister to tell her some of the reasons you appreciate her, keep a gratitude journal or write a thank you letter to your fifth grade teacher (shout out to you Ms. Janet Emily).

Delayed gratification
While taking a vacation can elevate mental stresses, planning one, looking forward to it can go a long way as well. Have lunch with your best friends and start planning that epic road trip, call up those cousins you haven’t seen for a while to talk Hawaii, brainstorm some rustic getaways with your girlfriend or start researching that solo overseas trip you’ve been dreaming about. This is your life. Be sure you’re investing time into living it.

Of course, you can always play some uplifting songs, cruise your favorite cat videos, grab a piece of decadent chocolate or do whatever fits your life and lifts your mood. None of us are guaranteed days. Let’s not waste precious moments in a world without rainbows and fairy dust. Let’s connect, unite and rock our delicious selves. How do you best elevate your mood?

Miki Markovich is a seeker of beauty and truth, traveler of interesting roads, saver of furry souls, typer of words, iPhone lover and mac head. You can find her on Twitter at @mikimarkovich and @fiveminutezen. If you’re looking to go from pissed to blissed in five minutes flat, find balance or improve the quality of your life through self care, check out her website at fiveminutezen.com.

The post Shift happens: Simple ways to get your zen back first appeared on Lesbian.com.

BY REBECCA PLATTER

I believe happiness is a conscious choice. People often get upset when I say this, angrily replying, “Why would I choose to be unhappy?” My response is “because it has become a habit”. Practicing consciously choosing a more positive perspective or choosing compassion over hatred is an everyday challenge. It is not always easy. Especially on the days when things happen that may be out of your control. Feeling tired, having a sore back or the many instances where life deals you some really crappy situations, it can feel impossible to see the silver lining, but choosing to try even at your lowest gives you the strength and hope that will bring you back to the center.

We have all had a stormy cloud moment at some point. It can completely absorb our lives if we let it. Sure things can be really bad at times, but ultimately our lives are all about perspective. The perspectives that we choose to adopt largely control the ways in which we see and interact with the world.  Let go, breathe, and embrace a life where you feel grateful for the little things and the people you love. If every day you can think of at least three things you are grateful for and really focus on them, it will be easier to focus on more things in the future. The idea isn’t original, but like healthy eating and exercise, it can be something that we put off until tomorrow.

Read more at TheSeattleLesbian.com

TheSeattleLesbian online magazine reaches more than 188,000 readers per week globally

The post How to flex your happiness muscle first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Ms. Dawn Beatty is completing her doctorate at Seton Hall University. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice in Franklin, TN.

She is collecting data from across the U.S. to explore the relationship between experiencing or not experiencing childhood abuse or witnessing domestic violence in childhood, adult attachment style (the way a woman relates in her intimate relationship), and how conflict is handled in intimate lesbian relationships.

Read more and learn how you can participate in the study at TaggMagazine.com

Tagg Magazine is a print and online resource for LBT women in the DC Metropolitan and Rehoboth, DE areas.

The post Lesbian relationship study seeking participants first appeared on Lesbian.com.

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they can use a little professional help. If you, or you and your partner decide that therapy is the right course to help you through a difficult situation, make sure you find yourself a gay or lesbian friendly therapist.

Ask Around. If a friend can recommend a therapist, that is a good place to start.

GLBT Center. If you live in a city with a gay and lesbian center, call there and ask if they have a list of gay-friendly therapists. Often gay and lesbian centers offer counseling and/or groups on site.

Read more at LesbianLife at About.com

The post How to find a lesbian-friendly therapist first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, host of “The Dr. Oz Show” and world- renowned surgeon, author, and television personality, has publicly denounced ex-gay/reparative therapy at the urging of GLAAD and GLSEN to take a proactive stance. In a blog post Oz authored entitled, “The Gay Cure: Shame Masquerading as Medicine,” the Dr. definitively sides with the entire mainstream medical establishment by clarifying both the lack of necessity for and harmful effects of such therapies.

Major LGBT media outlets, however, have decried Oz’s decision to host a show on the topic in the first place as well as the neutral stance he took in his closing thoughts. As Oz himself stated on the show, when several prominent LGBT artists and others caught wind of his decision to host a discussion on the topic, he received backlash immediately. Maintaining that the discussion must move into the mainstream so that it does not continue “in back alleys,” Oz invited musician Clay Aiken onto the show to share his thoughts.

Read more at TheSeattleLesbian.com

The Seattle Lesbian online magazine reaches more than 188,000 readers per week globally.

The post Dr. Oz renounces reparative therapy first appeared on Lesbian.com.

The American Psychiatric Association has signaled that, with the publication of DSM-5, transgender identity will no longer of itself be classified as a mental disorder, a change that they hope will remove stigma and undercut anti-trans prejudice, but critics have attacked the move as sleight of hand due to changes elsewhere in the manual.

Changing “Gender Identity Disorder” for “Gender Dysphoria”

On Saturday, the APA’s Board of Trustees at a meeting in Washington, D.C., voted to change how it classes trans identity in the forthcoming Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

Read more at Care2.com

Care2 is the largest online community of people passionate about making a difference.

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