The French transgendered community took a small step forward when their nation took transsexualism off of the official list of mental disorders, being the first nation in the world to do so.

According to Time Magazine, this decision won’t have an impact on the legal rights and medical opinions of transsexuals, being that in order to be recognized by the state as a new identity they need to first undergo surgery and receive new documentation. The outcome of the move will, however, regard the transgendered community as people rather than as mentally ill.

“I’m relieved. People might begin to look at us differently,” says transsexual blogger Caphi. “It’s a start.”

For more on this story visit 365gay.com.

Olivia Stephens