On May 10, 2024, Peru’s government, under President Dina Boluarte, issued a decree classifying transgender, nonbinary, and intersex individuals as having “mental health disorders” to include them in the nation’s Essential Health Insurance Plan. The move, which listed “transsexualism” and “gender identity disorders” as insurable conditions, aimed to expand mental health coverage but ignited fierce backlash. By June 26, Peru reversed the label, adopting “gender discordance” after protests in Lima decried the policy as discriminatory and regressive, risking stigmatization and conversion therapy.
The initial decree, based on the outdated ICD-10 classification, contradicted the World Health Organization’s 2019 shift, which reclassified “gender incongruence” as a sexual health condition, not a mental disorder. Critics, including Human Rights Watch, called it a step backward in a conservative society lacking same-sex marriage or transgender protections. U.S. Representative Robert Garcia labeled it “dangerous and shameful,” urging pushback.
Some Americans, inspired by Peru’s original stance, argue the U.S. should adopt similar classifications, viewing transgender identities as mental health issues requiring intervention. They point to the American Psychiatric Association’s 2013 shift from “gender identity disorder” to “gender dysphoria,” focusing on distress, as evidence of a medical basis. Supporters claim this could streamline treatment and align with conservative values prioritizing traditional gender norms.
Opponents, however, warn that such a move would fuel discrimination and ignore scientific consensus. The APA emphasizes that transgender identities are not inherently pathological, and misclassification could harm mental health access for an already vulnerable group. As President Trump’s administration pushes “America First” policies, the debate over transgender rights remains polarized. Peru’s reversal highlights the risks of stigmatizing labels, leaving open the question of whether America would benefit from following its initial path.
