The Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association, Inc. (HBIGDA)
is a professional organization devoted to the understanding and gender variance.
HBIGDA has approximately 350 members from around the world, in the fields such
as psychiatry, endocrinology, surgery, psychology, sexology, counseling, sociology,
and law.
HBIGDA provides opportunities for scientific interchange among professionals
through its biennial conferences and publications. It develops and publishes
Standards of Care for the treatment of gender dysphoria. These internationally
accepted guidelines are designed to promote the health and welfare of persons
with gender dysphoria.
In 2006, they began implementing a name change to WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health).
October 20, 2003
Lynn Conway
Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Emerita
University of Michigan
Member, National Academy of Engineering
Deirdre McCloskey, Ph.D.
UIC Distinguished Professor of Economics, History, and English
University of Illinois at Chicago
Tinbergen Professor of Philosophy, Economics, and Art and Cultural Studies,
Erasmus University of Rotterdam
Ben Barres, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Neurobiology and Developmental Biology
Stanford University
Barbara P. Nash, Ph. D.
Professor of Geology and Geophysics
University of Utah
Joan Roughgarden, Ph.D.
Professor of Biological Sciences
Stanford University
Re: Concerns about J. Michael Bailey's book "The Man Who Would Be Queen."
Dear Drs. Conway, McCloskey, Barres, Nash, and Roughgarden:
Thank you for your letter of July 14, 2003, in which you alert the officers
and board of directors of the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria
Association (HBIGDA) to your concerns about the book entitled 'The Man Who
Would Be Queen" authored by J. Michael Bailey, a Professor at Northwestern
University in Chicago, IL. We recognize the controversy surrounding the publication,
and we know it has been drawn to the attention of many of our members.
HBIGDA is a self-regulatory association of professionals who work with transgender
and transsexual people, with clear ethical guidelines, which cover all areas
of professional and patient/client interaction. The Benjamin Association considers
the ethical conduct of researchers, teachers, and practitioners in the field
of gender identity of utmost importance. However, Dr. Bailey is not a member
of HBIGDA, as such we are not able to undertake an inquiry, as we could not
insist on Dr. Bailey's participation or recognition of the process. We can
assure you though that the Association's Board of Directors is deeply concerned
about the issues raised in your letter and the supporting materials you referenced.
The allegations of mistreatment of transsexual women as research subjects
are very serious. Therefore, the Board of Directors of HBIGDA finds it appropriate
that an investigation into these allegations is being conducted by Northwestern
University.
The HBIGDA Board of Directors believes that a relationship of trust and mutual
respect between the scientific and the transgender communities is essential
to further its mission to promote the health and well-being of transgender
and transsexual individuals and their families. It is felt by many of our
members that this poorly referenced book does not reflect the social and scientific
literature that exists on transsexual people and could damage that essential
trust. We hope that the Office for the Protection of Research Subjects at
Northwestern will consider the ethical issues that are involved and we will
be sending them a copy of this letter so that they are aware of our concerns.
We are also preparing a separate letter to Northwestern University to express
our concerns directly.
While we await the results of Northwestern University's investigation, we
encourage everyone affected by this controversy to exercise professionalism
and treat the relationship between researchers, practitioners, and the community
with great care.
Thank you again for informing us of your concerns.
Sincerely,
Walter J. Meyer III, MD
President, on behalf of the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria
Association Officers and Board of Directors
Bean Robinson, Ph.D.
Executive Director
-cc. HBIGDA Officers and Board of Directors: Walter Bockting, Ph.D., George
R. Brown, MD, Peggy Cohen-Kettenis, Ph.D., Eli Coleman, Ph.D., Randi Ettner,
Ph.D., Jamison Green MFA, Sheila Kirk, MD, Stan Monstrey, MD, Connie Christine
Wheeler, Ph.D., Stephen Whittle, Ph.D.
-cc. Bradley Moore, Vice President for Research, Office of the Vice President
for Research, Northwestern University, Rebecca Crown Center, Room 2-223 633
Clark Street, Evanston, Illinois 60208-1108
-Lewis Smith, MD, Executive Director, Office for the Protection of Research
Subjects, Northwestern University, Abbott Hall, 5th floor, 710 N. Lake Shore
Drive, Room 532, Chicago, IL 60611
