Madison Reporter

Catholic Vote President Brian Burch said the recent announcement from Peru of classifying those with gender dysphoria as mentally ill is showing those individuals "compassion" instead of encouraging "their delusion."

"Those suffering from gender confusion and gender dysphoria require compassion--not the taking of a stance that lies about biology and supports these suffering people in their delusion," Burch told Madison Reporter. "The nation of Peru has done exactly what the American Psychiatric Association did for years in its DSM Manual of Mental Disorders."

The nation of Peru has "classified transgenderism, identifying as nonbinary, or claiming intersex status, as a mental illness." Peruvian President Dina Boluarte signed the decree on Friday, May 10, with the purpose of ensuring full medical coverage for individuals within the affected community, according to an article from the Patriot Post. 

The Peruvian government based this decision on information on mental and behavioral disorders within the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD). The ICD reports that gender identity disorder is a mental illness. For decades, the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders also classified gender identity disorder as a mental illness. Recent editions have changed their classification. 

While some saw this action by Peru as a "win" for those who are gender confused since it called for full medical coverage by insurance, the Patriot Post reports that "the trans activists in Peru are not having it," Outfest Peru director Jheinser Pacaya being one of them.

Madison, Wisconsin-based Catholic Vote is an advocacy organization that wants to “inspire every Catholic in America to live out the truths of our faith in public life,” according to the group’s website. Founded in 2008, its president is Brian Burch.