By John Mack Freeman
In response to international reports last week that new standards would make it impossible for trans Russian citizens to drive, Russian officials have clarified their position and said that trans individuals would still be allowed to drive. The law is based off of World Health Organization standards that still list gender identity disorders as a mental illness (hopefully, these standards will be changed when the new issue comes out in May). Via LGBTQ Nation:
But a government official said Tuesday that a mental or behavioral disorder in itself was not a reason to stop someone driving.
The law would affect only those suffering from chronic and prolonged mental disorders with severe or persistent symptoms, Health Ministry spokesman Oleg Salagai told Reuters.
This description applies to less than one percent of patients in the category “disorders of adult personality and behavior,” under which trans sexuality is classified in the current WHO system, Salagai said.
