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Claim: An X user posted that homosexuality was removed from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) list of mental illnesses on May 17, 1990.
Verdict: The claim is TRUE. On May 17, 1990, the WHO officially removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders, recognising it as a natural variation of human sexuality, not a mental illness.
Full Text
Discussions about whether homosexuality should be considered a universal norm have intensified, particularly as various countries’ parliaments debate bills that criminalise advocacy for gay rights and propose jail terms for those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or identify as transgender (LGBTQ).
Currently, about 64 countries have laws that criminalise homosexuality, with nearly half of these nations located in Africa. However, some countries, including several in Africa, have recently moved to decriminalise same-sex unions and enhance rights for LGBTQ individuals. Conversely, other countries, such as Nigeria and Uganda, have tightened existing laws against homosexuality.
While some persons have recently gone online to argue that LGBTQ is not a mental illness (here), with counterarguments (here), an X user, Oseni Rufai (@ruffydfire), posted on May 17, 2024, claiming that homosexuality was removed from WHO’s list of mental illnesses on May 17, 1990.
The post read:
“May 17, 1990, Homosexuality removed as a mental illness from W.H.O list.”
This post has garnered over 27,000 views, 261 likes, and 113 reposts as of May 18, 2024. In support of the claim, an X user, Mackiyte (@Healthwolf2), commented that homosexuality is not a mental illness but a biological condition, stating, “WHO was right about that.” However, the comment section also featured counter-opinions.
Screenshot of the post and reactions.
Verification
To verify this claim, DUBAWA conducted a comprehensive search across credible sources. A keyword search on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website confirmed that May 17 is recognised as the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. This day commemorates the removal of homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) on May 17, 1990, when the World Health Assembly ceased to classify it as a mental disorder.
Further searches corroborated this information through various publications, social media posts, and videos marking May 17 as the International Day Against Homophobia.
Cross-referencing historical records showed that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) declassified homosexuality as a mental illness in 1973. Meanwhile, the WHO, which had listed homosexuality in the ICD-9 in 1977, removed it from the ICD-10, endorsed by the 43rd World Health Assembly on May 17, 1990.
Why homosexuality was initially classified as a mental Illness
Homosexuality was initially classified as a mental illness by the APA and WHO due to prevailing societal and medical attitudes. The APA categorised it as a sociopathic personality disturbance and later as a sexual deviation, grouped with fetishes and paedophilia. This reflected the belief that homosexuality was pathological and required treatment.
Why homosexuality was declassified
Homosexuality was declassified following research showing it is a natural variation of human sexuality and not associated with mental illness. Advocacy by mental health professionals and LGBTQ activists also influenced this change. The APA removed it from their list in 1973, and the WHO followed in 1990, aiming to reduce stigma and align with contemporary scientific understanding. The declassification recognised that homosexuality is a sexual orientation, just as heterosexuality is, and not a mental disorder.
Conclusion
Based on the evidence from credible sources, the claim that the WHO removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders on May 17, 1990, is true. This decision acknowledged that homosexuality is a natural variation of human sexuality, not a mental disorder. The declassification aimed to reduce stigma and align with modern scientific understanding, affirming homosexuality as a sexual orientation just like heterosexuality. It is commemorated annually on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.
The researcher produced this fact-check per the DUBAWA 2024 Kwame KariKari Fellowship, in partnership with Bridge Radio 98.7FM, Asaba, to facilitate the ethos of “truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country.
