Transmedicalism

Transmedicalism is the view that dysphoria is a requirement for being transgender. People who hold this opinion are called transmedicalists, or "transmeds" for short. They may also be called "truscum", which is sometimes considered pejorative. Many transmeds do not believe nonbinary genders are valid, or apply rigid requirements for which ones are valid. Transmeds also commonly believe that medical transitioning is needed in order to be genuinely transgender.

Nonbinary journalist Jessie Earl sums it up:

"Transmedicalists believe that being transgender is contingent upon suffering and/or medical treatment. This ideology completely erases, and is harmful towards, nonbinary identities, as well as binary-identified transgender people who may experience what is known as gender euphoria, or joy at having their gender affirmed. Transmedicalists, who often, unfortunately, face varying levels of suffering, trauma and bigotry due to their experience with gender dysphoria, often see those within the transgender community who do not experience a similar level of suffering to have not "earned" being a part of the community."

Those who take the opposing view, that dysphoria is not required, are called (by transmeds) "tucutes" or "transtrenders". Some so-called "transtrenders" have reclaimed the term by coining terms such as trendergender, trendercore, trenderpunk, etc.

Many official organizations, such as the USA's National Center for Transgender Equality and the American Psychiatric Association, agree that dysphoria is not a necessary part of being trans.

Matt Goldenberg, Psy.D. and AJ Eckert, D.O. wrote an article in 2021 that states: "...not all trans people experience gender dysphoria. The belief that a diagnosis is clinically required to access gender-affirming care, known as transmedicalism, can contribute to stigma and discrimination toward transgender individuals because centering a mental health diagnosis suggests that all gender diverse people are inherently mentally ill. Another consequence of centering gender dysphoria as an essential trans experience is that it fails to consider that gender diversity is natural and a vital aspect of all societies, not a narrowly defined American pathology. Simply stated, an experience of gender dysphoria is not a requirement to be considered part of the trans community."