Is gender dysphoria a mental disorder? Gender anxiety is not a mental disorder. Gender anxiety is a strong feeling that a person's actual gender is different from the biological sex assigned at birth.

Gender anxiety used to be called “gender identity disorder”. However, this suggests that gender confusion is a mental illness, which is not the case.In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) recognized in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) that gender anxiety only becomes a disorder when it actually affects a person's health or well-being, and renamed it “gender anxiety disorder. “.

It is important to understand that while gender anxiety is a recognized medical condition, it is not a mental illness. Many people incorrectly associate gender anxiety with same-sex attraction, believing that all transgender people are gay. This is a dangerous and potentially harmful misconception. People with gender anxiety often live as heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual, just like those whose gender identity matches their biological sex. Basically, gender anxiety has no effect on a person's sexual orientation.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) prohibits any form of discrimination or harassment against individuals in the workplace based on gender identity, including transgender identity or sexual orientation. In addition, the U.S. Department of Defense now allows transgender and lesbian/gay individuals to serve openly in all branches of the military.