Division 44 Presidential Address
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Historical Timeline for Division 44 (1957 to 2012)
Developed by Mark Pope, Ed.D., Division 44 President (2011-2012)
1957
Evelyn Hooker’s pioneering study of nonclinical sample of gay men challenges the idea that
gays are mentally ill.
1969
Stonewall Riot marks the beginning of the modern gay civil rights movement.
1973
“Homosexuality” removed from DSM.
Association of Gay Psychologists formed.
First openly gay-affirmative symposium on homosexuality at APA Convention (Montreal),
sponsored by Division 32 (Humanistic Psychology).
Film Behavior Therapy for Homosexuality “zapped” at APA Convention (Montreal)
1975
APA Task Force on the Status of Lesbian and Gay Male Psychologists approved by Council
of Representatives.
APA endorses ApA action to remove “homosexuality” from DSM and opposes discrimination
against “homosexuals” in employment, housing, public accommodations, and
licensing.
APA includes sexual orientation in anti-discrimination policy.
1976
APA passes resolution opposing discrimination by “sex, gender identity, or sexual
orientation” in the selection of adoptive or foster parents.
1979
APA Task Force on the Status of Lesbian and Gay Male Psychologists publishes its’ report as
Removing the Stigma: Final Report of the Board of Social and Ethical Responsibility’s
Task Force on the Status of Lesbian and Gay Male Psychologists0
1980
APA forms Committee on Gay Concerns (COGC), as part of APA Board of Social and
Ethical Responsibility.
1981
Division 44 Presidential Address
APA passes resolution supporting the employment rights of gay teachers.
1985
APA Committee on Gay Concerns (COGC) becomes Committee on Lesbian and Gay
Concerns.
Division 44 formally established as the Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian and
Gay Issues.
1986
APA files amicus brief in Bowers v. Hardwick, against sodomy statute in Georgia.
1987
APA passes resolution supporting the inclusion of sexual orientation, gender, and gender
identity in hate crimes laws.
APA passes resolution calling on psychologists to not use the diagnosis of “ego-dystonic
homosexuality” in DSM3 or “homosexuality” in ICD-9-CM.
Awards established in Division 44, including the Distinguished Contribution series (Ethnic
Minority Issues, Science, Education, Practice, Service, Student).
APA hires first full time person (Clinton Anderson) working on lesbian and gay issues at
request of APA Committee of Lesbian and Gay Concerns.
1989
APA files amicus briefs in two court cases on sexual orientation and military service –
BenShalom v. Marsh and Watkins v. United States Army.
1991
Issues in Psychotherapy with Lesbians and Gay Men published.
1993
APA passes resolution supporting the dignity and rights of LGBT youth in schools.
1994
First Division 44 annual volume of research articles published by Sage, editors Beverly
Greene and Gregory Herek.
APA creates Task Force on Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and Serious Emotional Disturbance
(SED), includes section that addresses promoting good practices for mental health
facilities in working with LGBT clients with serious mental illness.
APA publishes brochure Answers to Your Questions For a Better Understanding of Sexual
Orientation & Homosexuality.
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Division 44 Presidential Address
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1996
APA Committee on Lesbian and Gay Concerns becomes Committee on Lesbian, Gay, and
Bisexual Concerns (CLGBC).
1997
Division 44 becomes the Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual
Issues.
APA passes resolution on the appropriate therapeutic responses to sexual orientation and
treatments to alter sexual orientation.
APA publishes the report Examining the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA): The
Scientists' Perspective.
1999
APA Healthy Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Students Project funded by Centers for Disease
Control grant, involves APA, American Counseling Association, American School
Counselor Association, National Association of School Psychologists, and National
Association of Social Workers.
APA publishes Just the Facts about Sexual Orientation and Youth: A Primer for Principals,
Educators, and School Personnel, co-sponsored the American Academy of Pediatrics,
the American Counseling Association, the American Association of School
Administrators, the American Federation of Teachers, the American Psychological
Association, the American School Counselor Association, the American School Health
Association, the Interfaith Alliance Foundation, the National Association of School
Psychologists, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National
Association of Social Workers, the National Education Association and the School
Social Work Association of America.
2000
Division 44 leads development of APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Lesbian,
Gay, and Bisexual Clients.
2003
APA Task Force on Sexual Orientation and Military Service created.
APA Healthy Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Students Project re-funded by Centers for Disease
Control grant, administered by the APA Office of LGBT Concerns.
2004
APA passes resolution supporting marriage equality for same-sex couples.
APA passes resolution opposing discrimination in the military based on sexual orientation.
APA passes resolution opposing discrimination based on sexual orientation in matters of
adoption, child custody and visitation, foster care, and reproductive health services.
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APA Task Force on Sexual Orientation and Military Service publishes report.
2006
APA Office of LGBT Concerns founded, Clinton Anderson first director.
APA publishes brochure Answers to your Questions About Transgender People, Gender
Identity, and Gender Expression.
APA publishes brochure Answers to Your Questions About Individuals With Intersex
Conditions.
2007
APA passes resolution opposing discriminatory legislation and initiatives aimed at LGB
persons.
2008
APA passes resolution opposing all public and private discrimination on the basis of actual or
perceived gender identity and expression and urges the repeal of discriminatory laws
and policies.
APA updates Just the Facts about Sexual Orientation and Youth: A Primer for Principals,
Educators, and School Personnel, co-sponsored the American Academy of Pediatrics,
the American Counseling Association, the American Association of School
Administrators, the American Federation of Teachers, the American Psychological
Association, the American School Counselor Association, the American School Health
Association, the Interfaith Alliance Foundation, the National Association of School
Psychologists, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National
Association of Social Workers, the National Education Association and the School
Social Work Association of America.
Division 44 and Division 19 (Society of Military Psychology) appoint a Joint Task Force on
Sexual Orientation and Military Service to develop a plan for the implementation of
the APA Policy Statement on Sexual Orientation and Military Service.
APA Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Office prepare an advocacy briefing sheet on
sexual orientation discrimination in the US military.
2009
APA passes resolution on the appropriate affirmative responses to sexual orientation distress
and change efforts, concluding that there is insufficient evidence to support the use of
psychological interventions to change sexual orientation.
2011
Division 44 Presidential Address
APA passes resolution supporting full marriage equality for same-sex couples in the face of
vociferous protests of holding it’s annual convention in a state that has overturned it’s
equal marriage law (known as Proposition 8 in California).
Division 44 leads update of APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Lesbian, Gay,
and Bisexual Clients.
Joint Division 44/CLGBTC Task Force on Guidelines for Psychological Practice with
Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Clients created.
APA took the lead in filing an amicus brief challenging the Defense of Marriage Act
(DOMA).
2012
Division 44 agrees to publish a professional journal, Psychology of Sexual Orientation and
Gender Identity.
APA updates brochure Answers to your Questions About Transgender People, Gender
Identity, and Gender Expression.
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