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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.
Updated: 8 February 2008
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