Jacob Ginther, DMSc, PA-C, presents: The Importance of Gender-Inclusive Psychiatry

This presentation highlights the role of psychiatry in providing gender-inclusive care, with a focus on the historical pathologization of gender-expansive folx and the lived impact of minority stress on mental and physical health. It examines how the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and psychiatric institutions have inaccurately labeled gender diversity as pathological. Systemic barriers—including discrimination, misgendering, healthcare avoidance, and inadequate provider training—are linked to negative health outcomes in the gender-expansive community. Patient perspectives underscore the importance of inclusive communication, affirming provider-patient relationships, and culturally competent training. Clinical reform and thoughtful psychopharmacological approaches must be grounded in the lived experiences and unique stressors of gender-expansive individuals. This work ultimately calls for a reimagined model of psychiatric care rooted in empathy, equity, and inclusivity.