Yana Sitnikova

Yana Kirey-Sitnikova is a transfeminist activist from Moscow, Russia and a PhD student in chemoinformatics in the University of Strasbourg.

Posts Written by Yana
By Yana Sitnikova • 10 years ago

Depathologizing gender diversity in ICD-11

The new 11th release of International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is coming soon. Diagnoses related to gender variance are those that are likely to be altered in this version. Despite wide acceptance among trans* community that these diagnoses must be changed, there’s a big diversity in opinions on how exactly this should be done. So, I’ll start by mentioning the options currently under discussion.

If speaking of what now is called “transvestic fetishism”, this diagnosis should be eliminated completely. But when we move to those states that are ascribed by “transsexualism” diagnosis, there’s a great deal of opinions. Unlike “transvestism” (or earlier depathologised “homosexuality”), people now diagnosed with “transsexualism” sometimes want some kind of body modifications, either by hormones or by ...

The new 11th release of International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is coming soon. Diagnoses related to gender variance are those that are likely to be altered in this version. Despite wide acceptance among trans* community that these ...
By Yana Sitnikova • 10 years ago

Stop colonising Russian LGBTQI!

Recently countless discussions about the life of Russian LGBTQI people are held around the world. While the organizers claim that they’re expressing solidarity, as a Russian trans* woman I feel demeaned and frustrated by these events. I read about some foreign activists and politicians inventing strategies how to “save” us here, but they don’t ask us whether we want to be saved this way. I read about “experts” attending these events who have very superficial knowledge of the situation. And I’d like to ask: what do all these people have to do with Russian LGBTQI movement that makes them welcomed to such events while actual Russian activists are not invited?

But when they invite us, we’re not allowed to talk freely. ...

Recently countless discussions about the life of Russian LGBTQI people are held around the world. While the organizers claim that they’re expressing solidarity, as a Russian trans* woman I feel demeaned and frustrated by these events. I ...