Are transgendered people considered to be disabled, sick or mentally ill?
Under the provisions of the Americans for Disabilities Act (ADA) transgendered people are not considered to be disabled solely on the basis of their transgendered status. Transgendered people are not considered to be medically at risk by virtue of their status. Transgendered people may be diagnosed by the psychiatric profession under the provisions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), American Psychiatric Association, 1994. However, the vast majority of transgendered people do not require psychiatric diagnosis or treatment and are not regarded as mentally ill or incompetent solely by virtue of their transgendered status. The inclusion of transgendered people in the DSM-IV is subject to periodic review. Just as homosexuality was removed from an earlier DSM, it is possible that transgendered people will not be included in future DSM’s.
