ThorNorway

SM and fetish off the Norwegian sick list

The Norwegian Directorate of Health announced February 1, 2010, that the diagnoses of Fetishism, Fetishistic transvestism, Sadomasochism, Multiple disorders of sexual preference and dual-role transvestism, have been repealed from Norway’s official list of medical diagnoses by 1.02.10.

See more:  http://www.revisef65.org/friskmelding_eng.html

SM may increase relationship closeness

A survey using computer-assisted telephone interviews with 20,000 Australian men and women, showed that BDSM may actually make men happier. Men into BDSM scored significantly better on a scale of psychological wellbeing than other men.
 
BDSM’ers were no more likely to have suffered sexual difficulties, sexual abuse or coercion or anxiety than other Australians. 
 
- This seems to imply that these men are actually happier as a result of their behavior, though we're not sure why, said Dr. Juliet Richters (picture), of the University of New South Wales. “It might just be that they're more in harmony with themselves because they're into something unusual and are comfortable with that. There's a lot to be said for accepting who you are.”
 
Researchers said the study helps break down the reigning stereotype that people into bondage and discipline were damaged as children and were therefore “dysfunctional”.

Richters, J., & Rissel, C. (2005). Doing it down under: The sexual lives of Australians. Sydney: Allen & Unwin. 

During the Christopher Street Day Parade in Oslo June 25, 2011, Gay and Straight fetish and BDSM organizations celebrated that fetishism and sadomasochism are no longer diseases in the Nordic countries.

Great Pictures!  http://www.revisef65.org/parade_2011.html

A Nordic sexual rights reform model now challenges the World Health Organization since Finland removed five diagnoses of sexual preferences, sexual identities and gender expressions related to sexual orientation from their national ICD version. WHO is currently revising the International Classification of Diseases to an updated ICD-11 edition within 2015.

More information is located here: http://www.revisef65.org/finland_eng.html