This is a topic I am of two minds with. Yes, it seems that calling transgenderism a disorder seems a little callous and maybe serves a negative purpose, but at the same time having it labeled at disorder could open the gates for it being a disability and eligible for benefits. So there is that. A problem, I think, with it being a disorder is that it comes dangerously close to something akin to “gay therapy”, in that it can and should be treated until cured.
Is transgenderism a disorder in the physical sense, IE wires got crossed in fetal development and hormone production has gone awry? OR, is a nature/nurture scenario that gets brought up in discussions on homosexuality?
In my life I have no people who had absolutely zero reservations of having sexy-time relationships with either sex at any given time. They did not consider themselves gay, or homosexual, or lesbian, or even heterosexual for that matter. Omni sexual was a phrase I remember, but not sure if that was an actual thing. I have also know men and women who would ONLY form intimate relationships with the same sex, and they thought of themselves as gay. Of course, I have known men and women who only have physical relationships with the opposite sex. Everyone functioned fine. No signs of any problem, mental or otherwise. Although, some would say they were mentally ill. There are people today who consider homosexuality to be a disorder.
I can see your point, but I do not think they would exclude something from a forthcoming DSM simply out of social pressure. Maybe new evidence has come to light that would alter a previous viewpoint. Remember, mental disorders in some cultures carry stigmas. Maybe loss of a job, or even children. At one time, treating irascible people was as simple as an ice pick to the eye socket. Even today, some societies view depression and anxiety as serious disorders that can cost people their jobs. Are their labor protections in TW for people with depression, or some other “disorder”? In the US, the answer is “kind of” and “depends.”
In some ways, I feel that labelling transgender people as having a disorder could be used as a way to stigmatize them. To tell them they are sick and should be shunned until cured. On the other hand, labeling them as having a disorder could open the way for protections and indeed, benefits.
Either way, this is not something that should be decided by demagogues or talking heads. It should be for a consortium of medical doctors, psychiatrists, anthropologists, biologists, etc from all over the planet to bring their evidence and research to the table and make a decision.