Europe News

Swedes remove cross-dressing from medical "diagnoses" list

Nov 17, 2008, 10:34 GMT

Stockholm - Several forms of sexual behaviour including cross-dressing and transvestism are to be removed from a list of medical 'diagnoses' in Sweden, the National Board of Health and Welfare said Monday. The agency has in recent years been approached by various organizations including the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education (RFSU) that have been concerned over the classification system, which is used mainly to compile healthcare statistics. 'We know that the classification codes are often regarded as diseases, regardless of what they mean,' agency director general Lars- Erik Holm said in a statement. 'This is unfortunate, since it can contribute to maintaining and enhancing prejudices in society, which in turn increases the risk that individuals are socially stigmatized,' Holm added. Other forms of behaviour due to be dropped as of January 2009 include fetishism and sadomasochism. Holm said the National Board of Health and Welfare would also raise the issue internationally, noting that the World Health Organization has started to revise its disease classification. Swedish transvestite Claes Schmidt, also known as Sara Lind, told Stockholm daily Dagens Nyheter HE welcomed the decision. Schmidt, who is married and lives in the southern city of Malmo, has been open about being a transvestite since 2003 and often gives lectures on the topic, and on gender and equal rights.

Europe News

Swedes remove cross-dressing from medical "diagnoses" list

On the Web

Your Talkback on this Story

Similar articles

Latest Headlines in Europe

Older Talkback

Like M&C on Facebook

Viral Web

In Monsters and Critics

Corporate

The Fine Print