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Ask the Master August 2008
Hey everyone, instead of my usual column this month I’d like to bring to your attention something that I think is of great importance and hopefully might inspire some questions for future columns and foster some discussions on the forums. We as members of the BDSM community are no strangers to discrimination. After all, we are a group brought together, for the most part, by the alienation that our activities have brought upon us. Worse than the social stigma of being kinky or perverted though, are the medical and legal ramifications of being misunderstood not just by our families and peers, but by those people who may be in positions to help or pass judgment over us. As familiar as we are to discrimination, very rarely have we had the opportunity to stand up for ourselves in a politically meaningful way. For that reason, I really hope that all of you will please take the time to look over and sign this petition (link: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/DSMrevisionpetition) by the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom asking the American Psychiatric Association to amend their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. The DSM is the book that mental health professionals use to make their diagnoses of psychological and psychiatric disorders. We have made some major victories in the past with this document, getting homosexuality and sadomasochism removed as stand-alone disorders, but there is still work to be done. This is an issue that goes beyond just fighting for our public image. The DSM is the bible of the psych community and gets pulled out as often in court cases as it does in classrooms. This isn’t just about your future, it’s about your safety. That link again is (link: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/DSMrevisionpetition) You can find more information on the proposed information on the NCSF website here: http://www.ncsfreedom.org/index.php?option=com_keyword&id=305 Archives:
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