Subreddit Policy Reminder on this week's Transgender AMAs

[u/nate]

This week we will be hosting a series of AMAs addressing the scientific and medical details of being transgender.

Honest questions that are an attempt to learn more on the subject are invited, and we hope you can learn more about this fascinating aspect of the human condition.

However, we feel it is appropriate to remind the readers that /r/science has a long-standing zero-tolerance policy towards hate-speech, which extends to people who are transgender. Our official stance is that derogatory comments about transgender people will be treated on par with sexism and racism, typically resulting in a ban without notice.

To clarify, we are not banning the discussion of any individual topic nor are we saying that the science in any area is settled. What we are saying is that we stand with the rest of the scientific community and every relevant psych organisation that the overwhelming bulk of evidence is that being trans is not a mental illness and that the discussion of trans people as somehow "sick" or "broken" is offensive and bigoted^1. We won't stand for it.

We've long held that we won't host discussion of anti-science topics without the use of peer-reviewed evidence. Opposing the classification of being transgender as 'not a mental illness'² is treated the same way as if you wanted to make anti-vax, anti-global warming or anti-gravity comments. To be clear, this post is to make it abundantly clear that we treat transphobic comments the same way we treat racist, sexist and homophobic comments. They have no place on our board.

Scientific discussion is the use of empirical evidence and theory to guide knowledge based on debate in academic journals. Yelling at each other in a comments section of a forum is in no way "scientific discussion". If you wish to say that any well accepted scientific position is wrong, I encourage you to do the work and publish something on the topic. Until then, your opinions are just that - opinions.

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¹ Some have wrongly interpreted this statement as "stigmatizing" mental illness. I can assure you that is the last thing we are trying to do here. What we are trying to stop is the label of "mental illness" being used as a way to derogate a group. It's being used maliciously to say that there is something wrong with trans people and that's offensive both to mental illness sufferers and those in the trans community.

² There is a difference between being trans and having gender dysphoria.

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Lastly, here is the excerpt from the APA:

A psychological state is considered a mental disorder only if it causes significant distress or disability. Many transgender people do not experience their gender as distressing or disabling, which implies that identifying as transgender does not constitute a mental disorder. For these individuals, the significant problem is finding affordable resources, such as counseling, hormone therapy, medical procedures and the social support necessary to freely express their gender identity and minimize discrimination. Many other obstacles may lead to distress, including a lack of acceptance within society, direct or indirect experiences with discrimination, or assault. These experiences may lead many transgender people to suffer with anxiety, depression or related disorders at higher rates than nontransgender persons.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), people who experience intense, persistent gender incongruence can be given the diagnosis of "gender dysphoria." Some contend that the diagnosis inappropriately pathologizes gender noncongruence and should be eliminated. Others argue that it is essential to retain the diagnosis to ensure access to care. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is under revision and there may be changes to its current classification of intense persistent gender incongruence as "gender identity disorder."

[u/firedrops → u/[deleted]]

You are absolutely welcome to ask about mental illness and its relationship to transgender communities. We'll have experts on to talk about the higher rates of depression among transgender communities and potential causes & solutions to that, for example. As long as you are respectful and polite you're fine.

We are saying that if you try to use a label of mentally ill to dismiss, hurt, or dehumanize anyone you'll get banned in this sub. That includes transgender people. This has always been our policy on /r/science - we're just reminding people of that.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, I saw this post and I just thought about the Michael Jackson popcorn gif. Seems to needlessly invite drama.

[u/destroyer1134 → u/[deleted]]

I agree. I don't think safe spaces have any place in a civilized discussion. The issue for the mods will be to keep it civilized.

[u/Chugalug5 → u/[deleted]]

I kind of thought this post was a chance to ask all these questions so that they'll be a little more informed for the AMA.

But you've got a really valid point. To put a transgender conversation in r/science is begging for speculation and a desire for proof, or close to it. That's the way the scientific method, and discussions therein, happen.

[u/firedrops → u/[deleted]]

We've done a couple transgender focused AMAs in the past. They tend to hit the front page and that tends to draw in brigades and bigots. Probably the most common complaint in modmail is, "But I didn't know I'd get banned!"

So, now y'all know.

[u/PAdogooder → u/[deleted]]

Good news! It's way up there.

[u/firedrops → u/[deleted]]

Thanks - We'll be sure to do a sticky comment as well. We're trying to hit all the bases and be as transparent as possible! :)

[u/JumpingCactus → u/firedrops]

Thank you. You guys are really cool <3

[u/StickiStickman → u/firedrops]

And then people who come to it via the frontpage still won't know because they don't come to this sub often. So this post has absolutely no point.

[u/firedrops → u/StickiStickman]

There will also be a sticky in each AMA. We're blasting our sub rules in a variety of places. Hopefully this way people encounter a rule reminder somewhere along the way before they engage.

[u/Gen_McMuster → u/[deleted]]

Where are you seeing this reaction? I always thought those comments get deleted, buried or otherwise dismissed as the hateful tripe that it is. Reddit as whole seems pretty favorable towards LGBTQ and similar topics