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.

LeatherLife V schedule is relevant for the leather times

If you are looking for a small intimate and relevant workshop consider attending LeatherLife V which takes place in a beautiful warm setting as it should meet your needs in multiple ways.  There is still time to register and the fees to attend are EXTREMELY reasonable especially considering it is a 3 day workshop.  I have updated the Seattle Announcements Calendar with the daily information.  Ms T

LeatherLife V is a small, intimate discussion workshop in which we explore our values, experiences and passions.

LeatherLife V

February 19th, 20th and 21st, 2010

Sandia Courtyard Hotel

$60 for the weekend

Albuquerque, NM

Applications available at LeatherLife.NM@gmail.com

Topics this year will include:  traditions, mastery, submission and community leadership, as well as topics the participants choose.

Schedule:

Friday

6:00 - 6:30 Silent conversation on traditions (requested topic)

6:30 - 7:00 Introduction and introductions

7:00 - 7:30 dyke traditions/feminist foundations (Amber)

BREAK

7:45 - 8:30 Traditions: What do you keep and what will you drop?

8:30 - 8:55 Schedule and topic selection

8:55 Formative evaluations

Saturday

9:00 - 9:15 Response to formative evaluations

9:15 – 10:00 Common objects exercise

10:00 – 10:30 Dominance and submission between equals

BREAK

10:45 - 11:30 Mastery: myth, theory and practice

11:30 -12:30 Submission

LUNCH BREAK

1:30 - 2:15 Service: cultural comparisons (guest presenter)

2:15 - 3:00 Leather culture exercise

BREAK

3:15 - 4:45 Participant selected topic(s)

Sunday

9:00- 9:15 Formative evaluations

9:15 - 10:30 Leadership

BREAK

10:45 - 12:00 Leaders as masters; leaders in service

12:00- 12:30 Wrap-up exercise

12:30 Summative evaluations

Women's Party discussion gets the party started at 7pm Friday

The Women's Community Party welcomes all women, transmen, gender queer and intersexed folks. We supply food, music and play space. People make the party, so please come ready to play, talk and have fun.
 

February features forum, led by BoiDi....to discuss our party, how we describe it and what we call it.

If you can't make it, and you would like your comments included, please e-mail and indicate if we are free to list your name with your comments.
 

Friday February 5th, 7PM-9PM/ID/18+/$20 ($15 for members arriving between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM) Suggested donation includes party afterwards/CSPC.

1st Friday Women’s Event Discussion and Education, different discussion planned each month. 

Updated Seattle Announcements Calendar.

The Bear is out of hibernation - GRRiffic

You will find the gang at HotFlash this Saturday as there will be a rare Bear sighting this weekend. As a Dutch lovely wondered...does this mean spring is here? Spring may not be here in weather but certainly will be seen in the light and fancy steps of those of us that come out to play this Saturday.

HotFlash
Neighbours
6 - 10 PM
$10 cover

Be there or be unBEARable!

Gilda's Club 4th Annual Bags & Bottles Event

If you would love to own a purse that was previously owned by a famous person the 4th Annual 'Bags & Bottles' event will be your gig!  This is for a great cause and is sure to be fun while held at The Westin Seattle, 1900 5th Ave 98101, Mar 14,2010 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Cost: $40.00 per person
Attention, fashionistas!

The 4th Annual 'Bags & Bottles' will be a blast and you can participate!


-Bring in a new or gently used handbag for the silent auction.
-25 Northwest Wineries will be pouring an array of delicious wines
-Local boutiques will be showcasing their newest handbags
-Exciting live auction featuring handbags donated by celebrities
-Firefighters will be on hand to sell and sign their 2010 calendars!

Live Auction of fantastic CELEBRITY handbags, including:


TINA FEY, award-winning actress, comedienne, writer and producer - star of 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live.
ELISABETH MOSS, stars as Peggy Olson on the Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG award-winning Mad Men, earning her critical acclaim and Best Actress nominations; notable stage and screen performances, including as first daughter Zoey Bartlet on The West Wing for seven years.
SHAWN JOHNSON, world champion gymnast, Olympic gold medalist and 2009 Champion on Dancing with the Stars - the youngest ever!
CAROL BURNETT, legendary comedienne, singer, and actress, winner of Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Tony Awards, Kennedy Center Honors Award, Presidential Medal of Freedom Award.  Inducted into the Academy's Hall of Fame.
SHARON OSBOURNE, British music manager, promoter, TV personality, actress and presenter, Emmy Award winner for The Osbournes reality show.
SCARLETT JOHANSSON, critically acclaimed, award-winning actress for such superb starring performances as in The Horse Whisperer, Lost in Translation, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Match Point, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona; Global Ambassador for Oxfam, political advocate, and international Dolce and Gabbana model.
SWEET P VAUGHN, hot clothing designer and Project Runway favorite from Season 4.
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN, world-renowned singer and actress, with over 25 Top 40 single hits, will forever be remembered for her amazing performance as Sandy in Grease; breast cancer survivor and tireless advocate for health awareness, environmental and animal rights causes.
REGINA KING, award-winning actress, recognized for her breakout role in Jerry Maguire, an unforgettable performance in Ray, also Boyz n The Hood, Enemy of the State, and currently starring in the TNT hit show Southland.
AYA SUMIKA, grew up in Seattle, now an actress starring in the hit  TV show Numb3rs.
LILI TAYLOR, critically acclaimed actress, recognized for her brilliant performances in such films as Mystic Pizza, Short Cuts, High Fidelity, State of Mind, I Shot Andy Warhol, and HBO's Six Feet Under, winner of numerous acting awards including Seattle's Golden Space Needle at SIFF.
AMY RAY, hugely successful singer, songwriter of the Indigo Girls; political and social activist championing environmental causes, gay rights, and women's issues.
RACHAEL RAY, celebrity chef, cookbook author, magazine publisher, and loveable host of the Emmy-award winning Rachael Ray TV show; launched 'Yum-O Organization' to combat childhood hunger and 'Rachael's Rescue' for at-risk animals.
REBECCA WELLS, bestselling award-winning author of four incredible novels: The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Little Altars Everywhere, Ya-Yas in Bloom, and her latest hit, The Crowning Glory of Cally Lily Ponder.
DALE CHIHULY,  renowned glass artist.  Dale will decorate a handbag especially for  Bags & Bottles.


Best of all, you'll be supporting Gilda's Club Seattle!

Event produced by Sommelier David LeClaire and Wine Events & Promotions.

The Bowled and the Beautiful Annual 8

The Human Rights Campaign Seattle is having their 8th Annual Bowled and the Beautiful Bowl-A-Thon at the West Seattle Bowl on February 20th.


This is a popular event so do not wait until the last minute to get tickets as you could end up disappointed.  It is only $35 if you purchase more then a week in advance and $40 closer to the date. This  includes two hours of bowling, pizza, soda AND a one year membership to HRC. With all the important LGBT issues currently occurring this is a great way to obtain your membership so you can stay involved and be in touch and get it while having a great time.


Family Session 5:30pm, Everyone Welcome 8:00pm & More Party Oriented 10:30pm.
$35 per person, 6 people per lane.
You can be a Lane Captain by getting 5 friends to join you.
Tickets at www.hrcseattle.org/bowling/tickets

A full bar is available and the bowling alley is well prepared for this crowd.