Peru Classifies Transgender Individuals As ‘Mentally Ill’

The Peruvian government has officially categorized transgender and intersex people as “mentally ill,” which the health ministry says is the only way that Peru’s public health services could guarantee “guarantee full coverage of medical attention for mental health,” The Telegraph reports.

Conditions now recognized as mental health disorders include transsexualism, dual role transvestism, gender identity disorder in childhood, other gender identity disorders, fetish transvestism, and egodystonic sexual orientation.”

The classification aligns closely with the the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which classifies “gender dysphoria” as a mental disorder.

Peru’s decree follows the release of the 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) by the World Health Organization.

“From the review of the ICD-10 diagnoses included in the Essential Health Insurance Plan, related to the condition, person with a mental health problem, the omission of seven (07) ICD-10 diagnoses has been identified,” officials wrote (translated). “In this sense, it is necessary to modify the Essential Health Insurance Plan incorporating seven (07) ICD-10 diagnoses.”

There has been high levels of homophobic, transphobic and gender violence in Peru Credit: Fotoholica Press

The Health Ministry (MINSA) later released a statement saying that these individuals should not necessarily undergo “reconversion therapies.”

Transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, who notably killed Bud Light’s brand, fled to Peru “to feel safe” in the wake of a national boycot of the brew. He’s thus far been silent on the matter.