Crossdressing in Sweeden

Sweeden, Stockholm – The Swedish National Board of Health have announced that several forms of sexual behaviour including cross-dressing and transvestism are to be removed from a list of medical diagnoses

The Health board has in recent years been approached by various organizations including the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education (RFSU) that have been concerned over the classification system, which is used mainly to compile healthcare statistics.

Health board director Lars- Erik Holm stated ‘We know that the classification codes are often regarded as diseases, regardless of what they mean, and this is unfortunate, since it can contribute to maintaining and enhancing prejudices in society, which in turn increases the risk that individuals are socially stigmatized,’.

Other forms of behaviour due to be dropped as of January 2009 include fetishism and sadomasochism.

Holm added we are also considering raising the issue internationally, noting that the World Health Organization has started to revise its disease classification.

Swedish transvestite Claes Schmidt, also known as Sara Lind, told Stockholm daily Dagens Nyheter he welcomed the decision.

Schmidt, who is married and lives in the southern city of Malmo, has been open about being a transvestite since 2003 and often gives lectures on the topic, and on gender and equal rights.

Claes Schmidt, marketing manager at Slagthuset in Malmo, a theater, restaurant, night club and conference activities, which he runs with his wife. He is also entertainment producer, entrepreneur and musician – and also transvestite. When Claes Schmidt lectures, he speaks about the value of diversity, whether male and female, and about equality, about the similarities and differences, gender, sex and gender roles and on women, men and all of us.

I am a very typical man, I am married, living in Malmo, and have been a transvestite all my life. I am tired about the ‘sneak’ with my orientation and decided to “come out and forward” and do something about my situation. I have never regretted “says Claes, and continues:” One of the greatest threats to the Swedish prosperity is our own prejudices and values. As the Negroes are seen as lazy, transvestites are judged as being sexually active gays and foreigners living on welfare and so on. “