In a highly controversial move, the Peruvian government has officially classified transgender, nonbinary, and intersex individuals as “mentally ill.” This decision, made by the country’s Ministry of Health, aims to ensure that public health services can “guarantee full coverage of medical attention for mental health” for the trans community.
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The new classification also includes “dual-role transvestitism,” “fetishistic transvestism,” and other “gender identity disorders” under the same category of mental illness. This change will be reflected in the language of the Essential Health Insurance Plan (PEAS), treating trans and intersex identities as mental health disorders.
Trans advocacy groups across Peru have condemned the decision, viewing it as a significant step backward for LGBTQ+ rights in the country. Critics argue that this classification perpetuates harmful stereotypes and undermines the dignity and rights of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex individuals.
“This decision is a clear violation of human rights and a setback in our fight for equality and acceptance,” said a spokesperson for a leading trans advocacy organization in Peru. “Classifying our identities as mental illnesses is not only scientifically baseless but also deeply stigmatizing.”
The international community has also expressed concern, with human rights organizations calling on the Peruvian government to reverse the decision and adopt policies that respect and protect the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals.
As the debate continues, many are watching to see how this decision will impact the lives of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people in Peru and what steps activists will take to challenge and overturn this controversial classification.
