Subject: CAMH and child abuse
Sent By: oii@intersexualite.org
On: Wednesday, May 21,
2008 10:49:01 PM
To: gsmitherman.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Cc: kcohen@cpa.ca,
alderson@ucalgary.ca, apa@psych.org, carolynrobinowitz@usa.net, leader@ontariopc.net, leader@on.ndp.ca, dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org, jmorris@cp.com, amcilroy@globeandmail.com, rmacgregor@globeandmail.com, rstursberg@cbc.ca, douellette@on.ndp.ca


Honourable George Smitherman,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Organisation Intersex International, an organisation incorporated in the Province of Quebec
with international membership. I am writing to express our concern about the CAMH and Drs. Zucker and Blanchard. It is an embarrassment that such a progressive country as Canada is funding what most people would consider to be child abuse of gender-variant children. This is well-documented and is denounced both by the intersex and trans community as well as many LGB organisations.

It is well known that what Dr. Zucker is doing is applying antiquated behavior modification therapy and aversion techniques to
homosexual children under the guise that he is preventing them from becoming transsexuals when there is no proof they are transsexuals or will ever express any desire to transition. As a matter of fact, Zucker admits they will almost all grow up to be gay. So what is the point of this "treatment"? Also, Zucker should explain why transsexuality is something that requires any prevention.

Here are some interesting quotes from a close friend and colleague of Dr. Zucker:

Some quotes from the Bailey's "Queen" book:

"Zucker thinks that an important goal of treatment is to help the children accept their birth sex and to avoid becoming transsexual. His experience has convinced him that if a boy with GID becomes an adolescent with GID, the chances that he will become an adult with GID and seek a sex change are much higher. And he thinks the kind of therapy he practices helps reduce this risk" (Page 30 in book)

"….Zucker believes that most boys who play with girls' things often enough to earn a diagnosis of GID would become girls if they could. Failure to intervene increases the chances of transsexualism in adulthood, which Zucker considers a bad outcome." (Page 31 in book)

"Still most boys who want to be girls become men who don't want to be women." (Page 32 in book)

"…Zucker's therapy seems kinder and more consistent, and thus more likely to be effective. Zucker believes that it is, although he is the first to ackowledge that no scientific studies currently support the effectiveness of what he does." (Page 34 in book).

It is important that this abuse stop and that Canada make sure it is working to ensure the rights of all its children and that includes those who are intersex, trans, gay, lesbian and bisexual.

Kind regards,
Curtis E. Hinkle
President, Organisation Intersex International
http://www.intersexualite.org/
Président, Organisation Internationale des Intersexes