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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Is being trans a 'disease'/mental health issue?

1000 replies

SolveMyPrombles · 26/06/2026 20:05

I'm asking on this board for deliberate considered responses so please do share your thoughts.

A lady on a local group has described being trans as a mental illness that should be treated with compassion not pandered to because it's a disease.

Looking into it more deeply I believe she's wrong and there is no current diagnostic manual that agrees with her take.

What do you think?

OP posts:
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12
Helleofabore · 29/06/2026 10:45

Seethlaw · 29/06/2026 10:40

I can only assume that she referred to the very fact that a male person who has impregnated their wife who then announces that he is female is not likely to be believed that he is female.

Indeed. I found this quote in this article: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/12/germaine-greer-tells-qa-her-trans-views-were-wrong-but-then-restates-them

“If you’re a 50-year-old truck driver who’s had four children with a wife and you’ve decided the whole time you’ve been a woman, I think you’re probably wrong,” she said.

She's perfectly right.

Thank you, I read that quote and I agree. She is right.

However, as BoI has done with the other quote, it is possible that there was more to the statement and that context has been removed to open it up to deliberate misinterpretation. As BoI has done for pages now.

Seethlaw · 29/06/2026 10:46

@Baileyonice

Conflicting rights can be managed according to social harms & benefits. That's why special exemptions to discrimination exist.

Proposal: letting transwomen into female single-sex spaces

Benefits to women: none

Risks to women: same as the risks posed by men in female single-sex spaces

Conclusion: proposal must necessarily be rejected

Easy one.

callmeLoretta1 · 29/06/2026 10:47

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 10:38

The context is gender not sex.

You're welcome.

^ See what I did there? (social conventions are not truth statements).

No, 'gender' does not exist. It's a misogynistic, manmade social construct. Only sex is real. And women are oppressed based on our sex, and our rights and our spaces are based on sex. 'Gender' is completely and totally irrelevant.

callmeLoretta1 · 29/06/2026 10:48

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 10:41

Conflicting rights can be managed according to social harms & benefits. That's why special exemptions to discrimination exist.

Yet trans want those special exemptions to be removed.

callmeLoretta1 · 29/06/2026 10:49

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 10:44

Hi MN commenter here, I can make any assertions I want here & on email & not have to provide any evidence for moronic cultists to swallow!!!!

The 'WPATH files' don't qualify as evidence

This is not about the 'WPATH Files'. This is an actual Dr from WPATH giving the actual regret rate. So you're saying trans Drs themselves are lying now.

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 10:50

Helleofabore · 29/06/2026 10:35

The clip I watched didn't include that comment so, I can only assume that she referred to the very fact that a male person who has impregnated their wife who then announces that he is female is not likely to be believed that he is female.

As you have confirmed, gender identity is only based on personally subjective values & beliefs, no one has to believe a thing that man says about him being female.

Where is what she said controversial?

Assume? HAHAHAHAHAHA

Then why mention 50 year old truck driver? Why not say males cannot be females 'cause biology? Because she is pointing to lived experiences by naming his age & profession.

And you know that.

Dance Bakery GIF by Butter baby
Helleofabore · 29/06/2026 10:51

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 10:09

Link?

Why would anyone provide you with links after you just told us that you choose to say anything you want at anytime and not feel any need to support it with evidence?

BettyBooper · 29/06/2026 10:52

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 10:50

Assume? HAHAHAHAHAHA

Then why mention 50 year old truck driver? Why not say males cannot be females 'cause biology? Because she is pointing to lived experiences by naming his age & profession.

And you know that.

'His'?

Bit of an assumption, by your own logic...

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 10:54

Helleofabore · 29/06/2026 10:36

So, is everyone who says they have a transgender identity to be believed that they are transgender?

Depends on the context. Are they on hallucinating drugs? Are the at a fancy dress party? Are they delusionary? Or are they giving an honest rational account of their disposition?

Seethlaw · 29/06/2026 10:55

BettyBooper · 29/06/2026 10:52

'His'?

Bit of an assumption, by your own logic...

Indeed, especially in the context of that man claiming to be a woman...

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 10:56

callmeLoretta1 · 29/06/2026 10:49

This is not about the 'WPATH Files'. This is an actual Dr from WPATH giving the actual regret rate. So you're saying trans Drs themselves are lying now.

There's this thing called 'evidence'. That even if a doctor making such a claim needs to provide.

Seethlaw · 29/06/2026 10:56

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 10:54

Depends on the context. Are they on hallucinating drugs? Are the at a fancy dress party? Are they delusionary? Or are they giving an honest rational account of their disposition?

Or are they giving an honest rational account of their disposition?

There is nothing rational in claiming, "I have a male body but I am a woman" or vice versa.

Edit: also, "depends on the context" is by definition transphobic. Congratulations, you've achieved the rank of Transphobic Ally.

AnonyMumAuDHD · 29/06/2026 10:57

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 10:56

There's this thing called 'evidence'. That even if a doctor making such a claim needs to provide.

Expert opinion is usually considered robust enough to stand as ‘evidence’ in any court of law.

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 10:58

BettyBooper · 29/06/2026 10:52

'His'?

Bit of an assumption, by your own logic...

'Quick, look over there….'

callmeLoretta1 · 29/06/2026 10:58

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 10:56

There's this thing called 'evidence'. That even if a doctor making such a claim needs to provide.

Oh really? And where was the evidence for the '1%'? Where, where....where? Nowhere, that's where! Such double standards from you.

Helleofabore · 29/06/2026 11:00

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 10:50

Assume? HAHAHAHAHAHA

Then why mention 50 year old truck driver? Why not say males cannot be females 'cause biology? Because she is pointing to lived experiences by naming his age & profession.

And you know that.

No. I don't know that. And nor do you.

Why would one of the world's leading feminists, who advocated that women and girls can achieve anything they want to achieve in employment, sport etc make a statement that would contradict that?

The age bit was illustrating that the man who had been impregnating his wife and producing children had been doing that very thing that only a male person can do for a very long time.

The profession bit as far as I know, could be illustrative to show that the man doesn't claim to be an academic in the field. I come from a family of truckies, and some of them are rather philosophical, but they are not driving trucks while also lecturing and researching on gender identities.

You are the person that seems to find what she said somehow controversial. Probably because you have a negative opinion about Greer and for months have been trying to present her views as problematic.

Why didn't she just say 'cause biology'? Because she was illustrating the issues on fucking ABC, on QandA which a lot of Australian's were watching. She is literally pointing out the incredulousness of having a 50 year old father suddenly declaring that he is a female person and expecting to be believed.

BettyBooper · 29/06/2026 11:00

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 10:54

Depends on the context. Are they on hallucinating drugs? Are the at a fancy dress party? Are they delusionary? Or are they giving an honest rational account of their disposition?

How can one give an 'honest rational account of their disposition' if what they are claiming is objectively false?

They may well believe it, but that would then fall into the delusion category.

Preferring to present in a certain way is entirely different to believing that you are actually something you objectively are not.

Helleofabore · 29/06/2026 11:01

Seethlaw · 29/06/2026 10:56

Or are they giving an honest rational account of their disposition?

There is nothing rational in claiming, "I have a male body but I am a woman" or vice versa.

Edit: also, "depends on the context" is by definition transphobic. Congratulations, you've achieved the rank of Transphobic Ally.

Edited

ah... you beat me to it on both counts, Seethlaw.

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 11:02

AnonyMumAuDHD · 29/06/2026 10:57

Expert opinion is usually considered robust enough to stand as ‘evidence’ in any court of law.

Yup but they usually reference the evidence that their testimonies are based on.
You seriously think the prosecution or defence is just gonna let them shoot the shit without being pressed to back up their claims?

AnonyMumAuDHD · 29/06/2026 11:03

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 10:54

Depends on the context. Are they on hallucinating drugs? Are the at a fancy dress party? Are they delusionary? Or are they giving an honest rational account of their disposition?

So a person at a fancy dress party cannot validly also claim to be trans? And trans persons never take hallucinogenic drugs, but if they do are they still trans if they say so under their influence?

Either a person is trans because they say they are and we must accept that unconditionally - or it is a nebulous concept that should only be believed according to the perception of the person hearing the claim that a person is trans? As I am in the second camp, my perception is that regardless of whether someone is sober/hallucinating/at a fancy dress party or sitting in my kitchen eating spag bol, they are deluded and I don’t have to be complicit in that.

Helleofabore · 29/06/2026 11:03

an honest rational account of their disposition

How does 'rational' not directly contradict a belief that is subjective and unverifiable when that belief doesn't reflect material reality?

Seethlaw · 29/06/2026 11:03

Helleofabore · 29/06/2026 11:01

ah... you beat me to it on both counts, Seethlaw.

Yes, but @Baileyonice might reply to you, while she steadfastly ignores me...

AnonyMumAuDHD · 29/06/2026 11:06

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 11:02

Yup but they usually reference the evidence that their testimonies are based on.
You seriously think the prosecution or defence is just gonna let them shoot the shit without being pressed to back up their claims?

No - they give their opinion based on years of clinical experience and this is accepted on the basis of rigorous professional vetting prior to being allowed to appear in court as ‘an expert witness’. Sometimes they may reference research and clinical data but ‘in my experience of working in this field for x decades, I have/have not observed that phenomena’ is often all that is required.

NowSober · 29/06/2026 11:10

BlueSherbet · 29/06/2026 09:59

Why was my post deleted on this topic?

The question is "is this a mental issue" and I answered yes, along with many other posters.

I also pointed out that its a fetish for some men.

I would like to understand where my post was deemed to go wrong?

If you state that for some men it’s a fetish to adopt a feminine persona then the fetishists complain to MNHQ that you are describing men with a fetish as men with a fetish.

Baileyonice · 29/06/2026 11:12

Helleofabore · 29/06/2026 11:00

No. I don't know that. And nor do you.

Why would one of the world's leading feminists, who advocated that women and girls can achieve anything they want to achieve in employment, sport etc make a statement that would contradict that?

The age bit was illustrating that the man who had been impregnating his wife and producing children had been doing that very thing that only a male person can do for a very long time.

The profession bit as far as I know, could be illustrative to show that the man doesn't claim to be an academic in the field. I come from a family of truckies, and some of them are rather philosophical, but they are not driving trucks while also lecturing and researching on gender identities.

You are the person that seems to find what she said somehow controversial. Probably because you have a negative opinion about Greer and for months have been trying to present her views as problematic.

Why didn't she just say 'cause biology'? Because she was illustrating the issues on fucking ABC, on QandA which a lot of Australian's were watching. She is literally pointing out the incredulousness of having a 50 year old father suddenly declaring that he is a female person and expecting to be believed.

But why a 50 year old truck driving father? Why not any 'man'?

She uses this example for a reason. I totally agree its used to imply unbelievability….the unbelievability of a mature man with only the experiences of a man.

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