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*** RESOURCES -- New Information is added often ***

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Gender Neutral Restrooms

As we gain new members (WELCOME) and I continue to upgrade the site and add new features you may see a repost from time to time.  Gender Neutral Restrooms is being re-visited as I have added some new Safe to Pee spots.  The beauty is that this is self serve and you can read what you find enjoyable, relevant and ignore the items that aren't as interesting to you.  Remember, I ALWAYS want to hear from you as it helps me GROW as your Blog Mistress. 

Gender Neutral Restrooms
   
You will find approximately 40 local restrooms that offer some form of privacy for those that appreciate a gender neutral restroom choice (+/- Gender Neutral Restrooms under Resources). There are 41 restrooms listed on the Gender Neutral Restroom listed for the Seattle proper area via the http://safe2pee.org/beta/ website. This site is fabulous and any restroom anywhere can be entered to assist others find a gender neutral restroom.

To NOTE: pay attention to whether they are 'genderfree' or 'gendered' as both are listed. I have placed the notes AS they are on the 'safetopee' site with only minor spelling corrections. As I obtain location or information changes I will update the information. I have expanded their original list on Seattle Announcements by adding web addresses, phone numbers and removed those no longer in business or added new business information of the individual businesses when available.

I am also asking of our membership to participate in this endeavor and businesses with a single * at the beginning of the listing are added by our members! When you notice/find/hunt for a restroom that is a safe gender neutral restroom, please either plug it into http://safe2pee.org/beta/ or send it to me and I will update our site and the safe2pee site. I would like to expand our Seattle database and include outlying areas with my communities assistance! I will update any city/state. Thank you for your interest and participation!

Goddess Market - 18th Annual Women of Wisdom Conference

I am starting the 18th Annual Women of Wisdom Conference information with an email from my FAVORITE DUTCH Goddess.  She will be part of the Goddess Market this weekend which is OH so appropriate as she is a Dutch Goddess.  Yes, I have become partial to this lovely Dutch Do-Gooder and if you have the pleasure to know Ingrid, you understand.  [In her other life you can often hear her lovely laugh as she gently convinces women of the importance to receive necessary health screenings via mobile mammography, with a breast exam and pap test thrown in free for income eligible women over 40.]

Stop by the Goddess Market event this weekend - it looks very diverse.  There is a dance Saturday evening as well.

Greetings

I would like to invite you to come and see me at the 18th annual Women of Wisdom conference February 11-15th, 2010 at North Seattle Community College.
I will be part of the goddess market with my sculptures, bowls, photography and rocks. The market is Saturday February 13th and Sunday 14th, 9-7pm and Monday 15th, 9-1pm. 10% off of any one of my items.

There are many other offerings at the conference: workshops, lectures, vendor market, art show, psychics, healers, body workers and even a Saturday nite dance. I am looking forward seeing you all at this great event.
Be well
Ingrid

For more information look at the website:
www.womenofwisdom.org

Also, the February's dance is at the WOW Annual Conference on Saturday Feb. 13 from 7:30 -10 p.m. This is a co-ed dance with live music!! See the conference evening events page for info.

Special Offers -18th Annual Women of Wisdom Conference

Special Conference Offers!

Bring a teen, 13 - 18 years old, to any of the workshops marked for Teens for $20.

Valentines Day Special! On Sunday, February 14th,  bring your Valentine to any of the Sunday evening workshops for $20.

Students (with student card) and Seniors 65 and older prices: $10 evening tickets & $25 half day workshops.

Take advantage of these special offerings by February 12th! Register early so you get into the workshops of your choice. Register early so you get into the workshops of your choice.

Bring two friends to an event and receive your ticket free!

This is for all evening events, and half day workshops. This offer does not include the weekend passes, and Donna Eden's and Joan Borysenko's workshops. To register go to brownpapertickets.com and sign up for the 3 for 2 special for the event of your choice - Please note you will need to include your friends names and emails to complete the registration.

Purchase a weekend pass for yourself and receive one for a friend at half price!

This includes all events except for Donna Eden's workshop, which you can register for separately. Price is $412.50 - $275 for you, and $137.50 for your friend. Register for the Weekend Pass Special Bring a Friend at half price at brownpapertickets.com. For the weekend pass you will need to email Women of Wisdom your event selections to complete your registration - wow@womenofwisdom.org

You can also register for these specials by phone and by mail. Just download a registration form from the registration page and mail to WOW, PO Box 30043, Seattle, WA 98113 or call 206-782-3363.



Thanks to http://www.womenofwisdom.org/2010conference/SpecialOffers.php for this information.

General Information -18th Annual Women of Wisdom Conference

Membership

We appreciate everyone's support towards the mission of WOW and hope you will become a member! We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and your contribution is tax-deductible. Please go to the membership page for information. (link here to member page) Memberships begin at $35.

Registration

Pre conference registration is available online, by phone and mail. Please go to the Registration Information page for full information.

Registration desk at North Seattle Community College is on the 1st floor of the College Center/Administration Building. Registration desk opens at 8:30 am on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Feb. 13-15.

Evening ticket sales are available for purchase at 6:30 PM before the special events February 11th and 12th at Seattle Unity Church.

Venue:

Thursday, Feb. 11th and Friday, Feb. 12th, evening events begin at 7:00pm and are held at Seattle Unity Church, 200 - 8th Ave. N., Seattle, 98109. Doors open at 6:30pm.

Opening ceremonies are Thursday, Feb. 11th for women only at Seattle Unity Church, 6:00pm.

All other events are at North Seattle Community College, 9600 College Way North, Seattle WA 98103.

Workshops are held in the College Center/Administration Building, which is on the west side of campus facing College Way. Enter on the lower level on the west side and watch for signs.

Saturday, February 13th evening event is held in the Cafeteria which is in the College Center Building at North Seattle Community College.

Parking and Directions:

Directions are available for North Seattle Community College at http://www.northseattle.edu/maps. Parking is free.

Please park in the East parking lot facing I-5.

There is Disabled parking in west parking lot closer to the building entrance, in front of the college facing College Way.

Directions for Seattle Unity Church are at http://www.seattleunity.org/directions.html Seattle Unity is located just north of Denny Park, on the corner of 8th Avenue North and John St. You can access 8th Ave. N. from Dexter St. to the West, and from 9th Ave. N. and Westlake to the East, by turning on to John St. or Thomas St. 8th Ave. N. does not connect to Denny Way.

Conference Hotel package:

Our conference hotel is Hotel Nexus, which offers breakfast, microwave, refrigerator, and free wired and wireless internet in every room.

The hotel is located at 2140 N Northgate Way, less than ½ mile north of the college. Our conference rate is $99 a night. Rooms are still available, call now. When calling the hotel directly to reserve your room, tell them you are with the Women of Wisdom Conference. Discounted rates are good until February 1st.

Shuttle service is available during the conference. Shuttles will run from the hotel to the college in the morning, and back to the hotel late evening, and to the Seattle Unity Church on Thursday and Friday for the evening events.

Link to Hotel Nexus

(206)365-0700
(800)435-0754

Scholarships & Work Exchange Availability

Work exchange is available for women of all ages and abilities. In addition to the work exchange there are a limited number of scholarships available. Applications must be received by January 22nd for consideration. There are a variety of roles, from administrative tasks before the conference to logistics at the conference. We are a volunteer organization and appreciate the time you can to contribute to the successful operations of the conference.

If you have questions regarding scholarships and work exchange please contact WOW at volunteer_wow@yahoo.com.

For information and applications click here:
WOW 2010 Scholarship Application
WOW 2010 Work Exchange Letter
WOW 2010 Work Exchange Application

Child Care

We will be providing child care on Saturday, Feb. 13th from 8:30 am to 5:00pm. Please reserve a space ahead of time so we have the necessary staff to manage the children.

Contact the WOW office at 206-782-3363 for more information on any fees and to reserve your child's space.

Goddess Market

Women artisans will display their handcrafted, diverse products for sale at the conference. Plan on extra time before and after your events to enjoy this visual delight and visit their booths on the 1st floor of the College Center Building at North Seattle Community College. This is a great opportunity to support our women artists!

The market is open Saturday, Feb. 13th and Sunday, Feb. 14th, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 15th, 8:30am - 1:00pm.

Temple of Oracles and Healing Temple

Experience a private appointment with our professional Psychics, Healers, and Body Workers Saturday, Feb. 13th - Monday, Feb. 15th 1:00PM. Exact hours will be posted later.

Please allow extra conference time so you can indulge in a gift for yourself with these gifted psychics, healers and body workers. The Temple is on the 1st floor of the College Center Building at North Seattle Community College.

On Site Counseling Services

Throughout the conference our professional counselors are available for guidance, crisis intervention, and processing your emotions. Sign up for an appointment at the registration/WOW information desk on the 1st floor.

We welcome counselors to share their gifts at the conference and provide assistance to anyone in need. If you are interested please contact WOW at wow@womennofwisdom.org.

Continuing Education Credits

Certificates of attendance are available. There is a fee of $10 per class to receive the CEUs. You can pay for the certificate at your workshop, please ask the workshop facilitator for assistance. Conference Art Impresssions

Deborah Koff-Chapin will be drawing at our special evening events and those drawings will be available for purchase on her website, and possibly on the evening of the events. Visit Deborah Koff-Chapin's website to view past Women of Wisdom Conference art impressions. http://touchdrawing.com/4Deborah/interpretiveSS/WOW/WOWmain.html

Conference Art

Lydia Ryle has offered her Goddess Art Banners to decorate our conference again this year. Lydia is the author of Goddess Icons, Spirit Banners of the Divine Feminine. Her website is http://www.lydiaruyle.com.

Silent Auction

Many of our artisans, psychics, healers, body workers, presenters and others have donated their services and products for our Silent Auction, which benefits Women of Wisdom and our mission to empower other women. Please visit the Silent Auction during the conference and bring home a memoir from the conference.

Poetry Wall

We love to see the creativity being expressed during the conference, please share your poetry with us at the Poetry Wall on the 1st floor lounge area.

Networking areas

You are welcome to bring your flyers, brochures, and business cards to set out on the networking tables on the 1st floor.

Concessions

At North Seattle Community College we will have coffee, tea, water, and light snacks available for purchase on the 1st floor. Food is not allowed in the classrooms. Please take any food you bring to the 1st floor lounge to eat. The cafeteria will also be available to eat when workshops are not being held there.

Meals

Hot Lunch and Dinner meals, including vegan options, will be available again this year from the delicious Saffron Grill. Please go to the Meals page for more information and to pre order and purchase your meals.

Thanks to http://www.womenofwisdom.org/2010conference/ConferenceInformation.php for this information.

FREE Events plus Ceremonies/Banquets-18th Annual Women of Wisdom Conference

The FREE events are listed AND the Ceremonies and Banquets which a fee is charged for so please look at that portion of the information carefully.  Enjoy!  Ms T

Ceremonies and Banquet

Join us for the Opening Ceremonies
Thursday, February 11th for women only - free

6:00 - 6:45pm at Seattle Unity Church. Doors will open at 5:50pm.

Join us for our closing festivities:
Monday, February 15th 1:00pm

Banquet:

A scrumptious and abundant Indian feast, including Vegan options, will be provided by The Taste of India restaurant.

Banquet $20 for WOW members, $25 for non members to register go to Registration Page.

Monday, February 15th 1:00pm

Banquet $20 for WOW members, $25 for non members to register go to Registration Page.

Pre-registration required

Join us for these free events:
Open mic sharing of our gifts 2:00 -3:30pm
Closing Ceremonies, 3:30- 4:00pm


Remember you can attend the conference without purchasing an event ticket! 

·  Visit the Goddess Market, with wonderful arts and crafts from artisans

·  get a reading or a healing from the Temple of Oracles/Healing Temple, view the Art Show

·  have tea and  treats in our social network area.


It doesn't cost to enter the conference general areas at the North Seattle Community College.  The Art Show is open in between workshops - and on Saturday afternoon from 2:30PM until the evening dance. Also you can join us for the opening and closing ceremonies for free.  

Women of Wisdom Conference February 11th - 15th, 2010

This is only some of the talent that will be at the conference.  Ms T

18th Annual Women of Wisdom Conference
February 11 - 15, 2010


Remember you can attend the conference without purchasing an event ticket! 

·  Visit the Goddess Market, with wonderful arts and crafts from artisans

·  get a reading or a healing from the Temple of Oracles/Healing Temple, view the Art Show

·  have tea and  treats in our social network area.


It doesn't cost to enter the conference general areas at the North Seattle Community College.  The Art Show is open in between workshops - and on Saturday afternoon from 2:30PM until the evening dance. Also you can join us for the opening and closing ceremonies for free.  


Did you know you can attend any one event?  It's not a one price event like other conferences, you can create your own conference and attend any number of events around your own schedule. 



If you would like to register for any of these workshops call 206-783-3363 or you can register online at www.brownpaper.com

Saturday, Feb 13: 1:30 - 4:30 PM

Tanja Diamond
Women and the Art of Tantra

This class will teach both the spiritual aspects and sexual techniques of Tantra. You will learn ancient Tantric techniques that will amaze your lover and yourself. This is a frank conversation that will awaken your senses and dispel the myths that are keeping you from experiencing the bliss that is your birthright. We will also discuss men's bodies and needs and new ways to pleasure your partner and yourself. This class will change the way you make love and experience love.

Tanja Diamond, 'The Tantra Teacher' ACTE, C.Ht, NLP, CHSH, is a sexual intimacy expert for the past 25 years. Tanja is the most practical and easily understood Tantra teacher today, flexible in any format, using humor to make the sometimes awkward subject of sex and spirituality educational, enlightening and fun. She maintains that sex isn't a luxury; it's an integral part of our everyday living. Sexual energy is a creative force that keeps us healthy mentally and physically. Being sexually empowered is about living your life as fully alive as you were born to be.


Alisa Starkweather
Riding the Dragon ~ Cultivating Healthy Leadership


This is our time now women to be everything that we were born to be, to bring forward our wisdom, and be rooted courageously in our clarity. There is power lurking in any of our hesitations that can be harvested by weighing in on the risks, taking council with our saboteurs and being willing to be more than we ever realized we were because we are. In delicious laughter mixed with tears of recognition we know that our excuses are over. We'll use skills of Shadow Work, breathwork, movement, circle and archetypal landscape.

ALisa Starkweather is the founder of Priestess Path Apprenticeship, Daughters of the Earth Gatherings, the Women's Belly and Womb Conferences, the Red Tent Temple Movement and co-founder of the Women in Power initiation. ALisa also has three recordings of her chants for circles, is a certified Shadow Work facilitator and a women's empowerment trainer with 24 years of experience.



Sunday, Feb 14th : 9:00 - Noon


Marti MacEwen and Stephanie Eldringhoff
Change Your Energy ~ Change Your Life


This workshop will teach you how you can successfully and consistently work with your own energy to 'accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative' in your life, whether in work, play or relationships. Marti MacEwan and Stephanie Eldringhoff are long-time licensed therapists in the Seattle/Bellevue area and master practitioners and teachers of Energy Psychology, which adds our growing knowledge of subtle energy fields to the practice of psychology. We promise you will take with you immediately usable, effective, tools for change.

Marti MacEwan, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Performance Coach and singer/songwriter. She is Diplomate, Association for Energy Psychology and member of the American Counseling Association. Stephanie Eldringhoff is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist; Diplomate, Consultant and Trainer, Association of Comprehensive Energy Psychology; Advanced Practitioner and Faculty Eden Energy Medicine; Clinical Member of AAMFT. Marti and Stephanie have private practices respectively in Seattle and Bellevue specializing in trauma, anxiety, couples, chronic pain and illness, performance blocks and all things energy. They have conducted extensive personal and professional trainings and have developed the Emotional First-Aid Process.


Barbara Boren
Divine Mother and the 2012 Prophecy


This session combines discussion, meditation and stories of Divine Mother (some incarnate today). Worship of the Absolute in the form of Divine Mother, lost to the west for hundreds of years, has continued as an unbroken source of spiritual inspiration in the East for millennia. We'll look at Her many forms and the proliferation of Her appearances in the last 100 years. What's the message she's attempting to give us and how can we better hear Her? What's the connection between Her messages and the Mayan prophecy for 2012? We'll compare Mayan mythology to the messages of the Goddess/Mother figures to weave together enlightening and useful information!

As a long term business woman and devotee, Barbara has been mindful to bring the lessons of Divine Mother into practical application in daily life, while educating and assisting other's growth in all areas. A long time community college instructor, and Money Wise Woman instructor, she's taught on all aspects of investing. Barbara's current interest is in Sustainable & Responsible Investing, and Conscious Business; bringing one's spiritual beliefs into active practice in the workplace as a means of personal and collective transformation. In addition, she has led and assisted women's spiritual groups for over 16 years, spreading the message of Divine Mother.


Sunday, Feb 14th : 1:30 - 4:30pm

Rev. Judith Laxer
Destiny, Karma and the Nature of Fate!

Judith Laxer
At some point in our spiritual lives we ponder our soul's mission. What are we here for? How can we best serve our destiny? In sacred space, meet the Fates, the Sacred Three, who await you with guidance for your soul's journey! Connect with the Fates and receive guidance and specific information to help us determine and understand our soul's mission in this lifetime. Rev. Judith Laxer treasures her profession as the founding priestess of Gaia's Temple, Minister, Spiritual Counselor, Psychic and Hypnotherapist. She dedicates her work to restoring the balance of female and male energies in our culture.


Kris Steinnes and Karen Fletcher

Claiming Your Voice as a Powerful Woman

Experience being fully expressed through your voice, language and movement. Discover your purpose and embrace your strength within as you connect with the tools that are inherently yours. Through qigong movement, meditation, writing, speaking and conscious language exercises we will celebrate as powerful women to bring forth our gifts to the world!

Kris Steinnes, meditation/spiritual teacher, is the visionary founder and leader of Women of Wisdom Foundation and award winning author of Women of Wisdom. Karen Fletcher is the innovator of QiDancing, apprentice to Qigong Grandmaster Xu Mingtang, and a certified Conscious Language™ facilitator.

Deanna Minich
Nourishment: Vibration of Food & Spirit of Eating

This dynamic, interactive workshop will dive into ways to make eating more meaningful and how to tap into all the energy - physical and subtle - that foods and the experience of eating can provide. Dr. Deanna Minich will talk about how the scientific and spiritual aspects of eating can be combined to benefit not just the body, but also the soul. Using the ancient chakra system as a guide, learn how the vibration of food and the spirit of eating connect to the seven aspects of our being: body, emotions, power, heart, voice, insight, and interconnection.

Deanna Minich, PhD, CN, is an 'out-of-the-box' nutritionist who sees more to food than calories. Instead, she teaches that food choices and how we eat are ways to dive into the inner reaches of our being and to heal deep issues connected to how we live life. Her approach is unique, with a base of science, a sprinkle of spirituality, and a dash of practicality to help create meaningful meals. Her cutting-edge ideas to nutrition and health are captured in her latest books, Chakra Foods for Optimum Health, and An A to Z Guide to Food Additives.


Sunday, Feb 14: 7:00 - 10:00pm
All Sunday evening workshops are open to men
Bring your partners for $20!

Miriam Dyak
Become a Social Artist - Embody the Change You Want to Create

Are you longing for change? Do you feel called to earth healing, people healing, system healing? If our planet were your canvas and you were a Social Artist, what wonders would you work? This is a workshop full of practical magic - multi-dimensional embodiment exercises and mythic journeys to help us manifest our 'passion for the possible.' And if you already have a project, you'll learn ways to take it further with more skill, creativity, and grace. Miriam Dyak will be sharing Social Artistry exercises and principles from her training in Social Artistry for the past four years with Jean Houston.

Miriam Dyak has been involved in social activism for women, peace, the environment, and political change since the late 1960's. For the past four years she has been training in Social Artistry with Jean Houston and has used those skills to 'accomplish the impossible' with the Washington State Legislature. Miriam is co-founder of The Voice Dialogue Institute where she teaches trainings and workshops in Voice Dialogue and the Psychology of Selves. She has a private practice as a counselor in Seattle, has published three books of poetry, and is a co-founder of Washington Professional Counselors Association.


Patricia Ann Davis
Indigenous Ceremony ~ A Collective Healing Circle

An Indigenous ceremonial change process is a healing ceremony with four phases for reframing an out-of-balance condition and correcting the root cause that maintains imbalance. The workshop design is to sit in a sacred circle format with participation in a collective healing process utilizing cedar and sweet grass to affirm power within to have power with others, which eliminates the need for power over.

Patricia Ann Davis is a diagnostician and practitioner of the Choctaw and Navajo Nations. She is initiated and trained in spiritual wellness restoration.

If you would like to register for any of these workshops call 206-783-3363 or you can register online at www.brownpaper.com


We look forward to seeing you at the Conference!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

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

Kinky is not a Diagnosis - Petition for changes to DSM-V

This is the petition that started the proposed changes to the DSM-V changes.  For those that enjoy the whole story, feast your eyes on this!  Ms T
Kinky is NOT a Diagnosis

NCSF [National Coalition for Sexual Freedom] is proud to announce that 3,241 people signed the DSM Revision Petition from June 2008 to December 2009. The petition is now closed and has been sent to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the members of the Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Work Group for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM V). Thank you to everyone who participated in this historic effort!

The diagnoses in the DSM-TR-IV subject people who practice BDSM, fetishes and cross-dressing to bias, discrimination and social sanctions without any scientific basis. NCSF often sees individuals who suffer distress and impairment in their social and occupational lives (ie. interpersonal difficulties) because their desires conflict with current societal standards. These standards stem in a large part from the DSM. itself: pathologizing unusual sexual interests has led to more discrimination and discouraged individuals from seeking treatment for physical and mental health problems. This codification of  'cultural aversion' was the same reason that ego-dystonic homosexuality was included in the DSM, and then removed when it was finally recognized as such by the APA.

Some of the comments made on the petition include:

#604: 'BDSM is no more an illness or dysfunction than boxing, skydiving or participating in any extreme sport.'

#1680: 'I am all for removing these biases from legitimate psychiatry. It has ruined a friend of mine as for 8 years he has felt ashamed, depressed and self destructive because some 'therapist' diagnosed him as sexually deviant and egodystonic and told him to repress his urges.'

#1902: 'Psychiatry should serve human wellness, not police human diversity.'

#2224: 'Historically, diagnoses of insanity have been used to marginalize those with unusual sexual preferences. This has to stop.'

#2566: 'I just had an acquaintance lose custody of her child to her now-vengeful ex due to 'kink' and a bad judge. It’s time to take more bias out of the DSM.'

'The politicization of sexuality is common in this country,' says Leigha Fleming, Board Chair of NCSF. 'There is no basis in scientific fact for the categorization of BDSM and affiliated behaviors as inherently pathological or unhealthy. Social conservatives shouldn’t be allowed to carry their agenda into the DSM. It wasn’t appropriate when homosexuality was classified as a disorder by the APA and it’s not correct now for the DSM to classify consensual adult sexual expression like BDSM, cross dressing, etc. as disorder. The DSM was never meant to be a political weapon used to marginalize sexual minorities. The overwhelming response by our constituents necessitates our involvement in this critical issue.'
To see the hundreds of comments that petitioners made on the petition, click here: www.thepetitionsite.com/1/DSMrevisionpetition

To find out more about the DSM and the Paraphilias section, read the NCSF & ITCR: The Foundation for NCSF’s 'White Paper on the DSM Revision' at www.ncsfreedom.org

For more information, email: susanw@ncsfreedom.org
Thanks to NCSF for this post.

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