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2nd Quarter 2009 NCSF Notes Newsletter Out! Check it out!
Mission Statement The NCSF is committed to creating a political, legal and social environment in the US that advances equal rights for consenting adults who engage in alternative sexual and relationship expressions. The NCSF aims to advance the rights of, and advocate for consenting adults in the BDSM-Leather-Fetish, Swing, and Polyamory Communities. We pursue our vision through direct services, education, advocacy, and outreach, in conjunction with our partners, to directly benefit these communities.
NCSF Can Help... If you are seeking a Kink Aware Professional (KAP) please click here. Our KAP program allows professionals who are friendly to BDSM, swing and poly individuals to list themselves as "kink friendly." It serves as a resource for people to self-refer for help from theraputic, legal and other professionals who will not prejudge based on the consensual adult activities of our constituents. If you are seeking assistance or our Incident Response program, please click here. Criteria for acceptance include consideration of whether a significant issue relevant to NCSF's primary constituencies is at stake, what impact can be realized for our constituents as a whole if NCSF gets involved, and whether existing resources allow for a case to be handled effectively.
The NCSF and NCSF Foundation DSM Revision Project The American Psychiatric Association has formed working committees to revise by 2011 its Diagnostic and Statistic Manual (DSM), the definitive resource on the Diagnostic Criteria for all mental disorders. Statements currently within the DSM Paraphilias criteria are contradicted by scientific evidence, therefore NCSF must conclude that the interpretation of the Paraphilias criteria has been politically – not scientifically – based. This politically motivated interpretation subjects BDSM practitioners, fetishists and cross-dressers to bias, discrimination and social sanctions without any scientific basis. We call on the American Psychiatric Association to remove or drastically restructure the Paraphilias section in the DSM. To find out more, click here to read the NCSF & The Foundation for NCSF's "White Paper on the DSM Revision" Click here to sign the "DSM Revision Petition" (you can make your signature anonymous on this secure petition site so it doesn't appear on the Internet) To get updates on the profress of the DSM Revision Project you can visit the DSM Revision Blogspot.
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