The pathologization of homosexuality in Diagnostic Manuals and psychiatric classifications

Abstract

We will analyze the relationship between diagnosis in Mental Health Care and the classification of homosexuality as a mental illness. We will reflect that as far as non-hegemonic sexualities are concerned, the diagnosis does not suppose to be a complete knowledge of the phenomenon that it seeks to investigate, but rather works as a performative procedure that produces the same phenomenon that it seeks to know and delimit. We will take into account the "Principles for the protection of the mentally ill" adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 46/119 (12/17/1991) and the existing systems of classification in Mental Health. Our working hypothesis rests on the ideas of performativity developed by Judith Butler.