The DSM-V Revision Changes takes the sting out of sadism

Many battles won over the years are done so by tireless hard work.  Often this is thankless.  I originally thought about editing this post by Leigha Fleming from National Coalition for Sexual Freedon (NCSF) but due to the heartfelt passion expressed and the history told I am leaving the entire article for your reading.  Please enjoy the news of the proposed revisions to the DSM-V regarding the language related to 'Sexual Sadism' vs 'Sexual Sadism Disorder'.  This details important history, passion and struggle.  Ms T

WON! The DSM-V Revision Changes!

by Leigha Fleming
Hi folks....
So I wanted to take the opportunity to share with you some HUGE news...
I sat in my car today... in the garage, responding to phone calls and reading/writing emails.
I spent a good part of that time crying-- with relief and happiness... and gratitude. Let me tell you why.
The proposed revisions to the DSM-V are out on the official DSM-V website as of this morning. See Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders

The victory is this: the revision committee is giving us exactly what we asked for. ALL the paraphilias are being renamed from, e.g. 'Sexual Sadism' to 'Sexual Sadism Disorder', explicitly to acknowledge that the paraphilias themselves ARE NOT disorders and bring their misleading names into alignment with the other behavioral disorders already in the DSM. (e.g. eating isn't a disorder, but bulimia is an eating disorder.)
This is exactly how Homosexuality (302.0) was 'deleted' from DSM-II -- by a rename to 'Egodystonic Homosexuality' which was the disorder of being unhappy to be gay. What made it a 'deletion' and the 'winning' of a political battle was in large part the Gay Activists Alliance saying so very publicly. Egodystonic Homosexuality was itself eventually dropped from the DSM.

NCSF is moving swiftly to publish press releases declaring victory and complimenting the Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Working Group for seeing thing our way. To capitalize on this and make it sociopolitically relevant, we absolutely must control the 'frame' of how the change is understood. It's a 'deletion' if we SAY it is.

I want to be clear... NO OTHER ORGANIZATION... no other group ... worked on the paraphilias revision section as directly and completely as NCSF has. There have certainly been individuals who have worked for it.. but no other organization has. Susan Wright in particular has to be credited for her tireless work on this issue. Our survey, our reports, our communication to the committee was listened to. We have made a HUGE victory and an incredibly important first step in the removal of the paraphilias section in its entirety.
We'll start issuing press releases at the beginning of next week. The DSM-V isn't set in stone yet... it's open to a public comment period through April. We have to move quickly and capitalize on our success with this.

As I sat in my garage in the car this evening.. I thought about all the people over the years who have had the DSM used as a tool of discrimination and punishment....
The Revolution is coming.. and NCSF is leading the way.
Thank you all for your continued involvement and support.
Best,
Leigha Fleming Board Chair 822 Guilford Ave #127 Baltimore, MD 21202 410.539.4824 (office) 443.280.0457 (direct) www.ncsfreedom.org http://www.twitter.com/ncsf http://ncsf.wordpress.com