The Nappy Cat Chronicles

Via Right Wing Watch, this one from Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council (FRC) hurts:

The Democratic Leadership is rushing to the floor this week H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. The bill would place a massive new government mandate on private businesses to provide healthcare coverage for mental illness. Of even more concern, though, is the fact that rather than limit the coverage mandate to severe and debilitating illness, the bill uses the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) as the basis for identifying conditions that must be covered. Among the more troubling diagnoses incorporated into DSM-IV are:

• Circadian rhythm sleep disorder (jet lag type);
• Caffeine intoxication;
• Sibling relational problem;
• Substance-induced sexual dysfunction;
• Gender identity disorder;
• Necrophilia;
• Transvestic fetishism; and
• Pedophilia.

Under H.R. 1424, employers offering group coverage would be required to provide benefits related to these and similar diagnoses included in DSM-IV. In addition, the bill provides no conscience clause for employers who have religious or moral objections to covering the psycho-sexual disorders, including those noted above [emphasis mine].

I’ve found that, for a reason unknown to me, some people are against mental illness diagnoses until a family member or the family suffers from the effects of a diagnosable mental illness. After a bit of mulling, they pour over their options like hot cheese on Panera’s French onion soup.

Physical illnesses like Alzheimer’s and diabetes do not fall within politically or religiously correct boundaries. Mental illnesses are the same. Incidentally, FRC President Tony Perkins has a son named David. If David were to ever come out as a homosexual, it’s very likely that Mr. Perkins would want his son to engage in the “fix the gayness in you” therapy know as reparative therapy. FRC’s position on homosexual

FRC does not consider homosexuality an alternative lifestyle or sexual “preference”; it is unhealthy and destructive to individual persons, families, and society. Compassion–not bigotry–compels us to support the healing of homosexuals who wish to change their destructive behavior.

alludes to this sort of treatment. A “sibling relational problem” that is causing distress is obviously not as high as homosexuality on the FRC disorders-needing-treatment hierarchy. But, maybe that’s the point.