from Political News

Division 44 Psychologist Urges
Colleagues To Be Gay 'Advocates

January 30, 2006 - The Fall 2005 issue of the American Psychological Association's Division 44 newsletter features an article by Michael R. Stevenson on the importance of gay psychologists acting as advocates for lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender issues.

According to Stevenson, "Psychologists possess both the data and the skills to advocate as content experts, role models, and witnesses. We can help to diminish the influence of heterosexist norms. We can influence the educational development of all health and mental health professionals."

Stevenson believes that much of this advocacy can be accomplished through the APA's Public Policy Office and its Office of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Concerns. This work is carried on at the federal level to influence public policy decisions.

In addition, Stevenson believes that gay political advocacy can be accomplished through the Coalition to Protect Research, "which came into being after Congress threatened to de-fund significant research on sexual behavior." Says Stevenson: "Making the assumption that researchers are better equipped to judge the merit of scientific research than are most politicians, the Coalition lobbies against efforts to restrict funding for peer-reviewed research." In addition, the National LGBT Health Coalition is committed "to improving the health and well-being of LGBT people" through federal advocacy efforts.

Stevenson urges gay psychologists to offer their services as "expert witnesses" on various levels and to help develop educational materials that "affirm diversity, broadly defined." He also urges support for organizations such as the Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies (IGLSS) "in its efforts to debunk the myths and misinformation promoted by those who would prefer we return to the closet."

He also urges that more research be done on health concerns of those within the LGBT community. Stevenson notes, however, that many gay researchers are reluctant to conduct such research for fear that it might be used by those who would wish to re-pathologize homosexuality. "Having worked so hard to de-pathologize homosexuality, researchers interested in LGBT concerns may be reluctant to investigate health-related behaviors in fear of the potential political uses of such data."

Additional Reading: Psychology Losing Scientific Credibility, Say APA Insiders; "Destructive Trends in Mental Health: The Well-Intentioned Path to Harm"; When Dissent is Stifled: The Same-Sex Marriage and Right-to-Treatment Debates; The Health Risks Of Gay Sex.