Bisexual Issues Committee (BIC)

The goal of the Bisexual Issues Committee (BIC) of Division 44 is to foster discussion, scholarship, and advocacy related to bisexual+ issues in psychology within Division 44, and within the American Psychological Association more broadly. We also aim to provide a place for professional support, mentorship, community, and connection for bisexual+ people and allies within the American Psychological Association. Our definition of bisexual/bisexual+ includes people romantically and/or sexually attracted to more than one sex and/or gender. This may include both cisgender and transgender people who self-identify as bisexual, queer, pansexual, omnisexual, two-spirited, fluid, or who choose another non-heterosexual identity label. Want to get in touch? Email us.

Bisexual Issues Executive Committee Members

Co-Chair
Mia Semelman, PsyD
Mia (she/her) maintains a full-time private practice with Pacific Anxiety Group in the San Francisco Bay Area, focusing on LGBTQ+, kink and non-monogamous individuals and couples. Her dissertation was titled, “Experiences of Jealousy in Consensual Non-Monogamous Relationships: Debunking Myths and Harnessing Strengths.” As a biracial and bisexual clinician, she values intersectionality and fluidity within identities. She has provided clinical care in a variety of settings including hospitals, community mental health clinics, and colleges. In addition to clinical work, she is passionate about advocacy and advancing the field of psychology. She also enjoys philosophizing, spicy food and climbing.

Co-Chair
Sara Townsend, MA
Sara Townsend is pursuing her PhD in School Psychology at the University of Arizona, having earned her MA in the same field in 2024. Her research investigates the relationship between sociocultural systems and identity development, mental health, and schooling experiences for bi+ populations, with a particular emphasis on adolescence. Clinically, Sara is specializing in LGBTQ+ affirming care, developmental trauma, and neurodivergence. She is active in advocacy within her field, using translational science to push for more socially-just systems in education and psychology. Prior to beginning her PhD, Sara had an impactful career supporting youth as an educator, program coordinator, evaluation professional, and policy developer. Her career has spanned two continents. Sara strongly values transdisciplinary thought and has an academic background in English Literature, Gender/Women’s Studies, and Psychological Science. She is a Fulbright alum and has been a member of Phi Beta Kappa since 2012. When not working on her research or clinical training, Sara spends her time volunteering at an LGBTQ+ youth organization, birding with her local Feminist Bird Club, searching for the best vegetarian tacos, and scouring the television for good bi+ representation.

Co-Chair
Emily A. McIltrot, BA, BS
Emily (she/her) is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Florida. She is also working towards a Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Women's Studies from the University of Florida in 2022. Her research interests predominately focus on minority stress (e.g., experiences of discrimination, internalized stigma), experiences of sexual objectification, and body image across LGBTQ+ populations. This research explores implications for sexual well-being as well as examines intersections across axes of inequality. Emily provides individual therapy to clients, drawing on primarily feminist and multicultural therapeutic approaches.

Newsletter Director
Zakary Clements, PhD
Zakary Clements (he/they) is the newsletter director for BIC. Za is a postdoctoral associate at Washington University in St. Louis. Zak received his PhD in Counseling Psychology at the University of Kentucky. Zak's research interests broadly focus on the strengths of being transgender, nonbinary, and/or gender-expansive (TNB and GE). Specifically, he is interested in how authenticity and well-being can be enhanced in TNB and GE individuals. His dissertation identified associations between gender minority stressors, basic psychological needs, authenticity, well-being, and psychological distress. He is also interested in community-based research and examining the effects of policies on LGBTQ+ people.

Outreach Coordinator
Aurelio Castro, PhD
Aurelio Castro, PhD, is a social psychologist, bi+ activist and lecturer at the Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna (Italy). Since 2014 they have been conducting research on sexual orientations and genders from a psychosocial and queer perspective drawing from social identity theory, sexual scripts, narrative and feminist studies. In 2020 they concluded their Ph.D. in Social Sciences at the University of Padua with a thesis on the narratives at the intersections of sexuality and masculinities of bi+ and heterosexual men. Aurelio writes about bisexual politics, collaborates with various publishers and conducts trainings for LGBTQIA+ associations, schools and associations throughout Italy. In 2017 they were part of the organising committee of the Bi Visibility Day Padova, the first Italian bi+ pride and march led by activist Elena Lucietto. Since 2021 they are a leadership member of the International Bisexual Research Group, which has been organising international conferences involving activists and researchers from all around the globe. In 2023 they edited for ETS Edizioni the first Italian anthology of bisexual studies and politics titled “Politics of Bisexualities. Beyond the visibility of bisexual, pansexual and queer people”.

Programming Coordinator
Rachel Chickerella, PhD
Rachel (she/her) is a Core Faculty Member in the Clinical Psychology Department at Antioch University New England. Her research interests primarily focus on LGBTQ+ and in particular bi+ communities and reducing stigma to improve health outcomes. Regarding bi+ health, Rachel has focused on emotion-focused and psychoeducational interventions, media representation, the experience of coming out, and predictors of psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. In her role as Core Faculty at Antioch, Rachel teaches qualitative and quantitative research methods, social justice in psychology, intake interviewing, and a cognitive behavioral therapy course. Rachel also supports students in completing dissertation research and mentors them through the doctoral process, with the goal of assisting them to find the career path that will best meet their needs. Rachel also works clinically with LGBTQ+, and in particular bi+ populations. She is looking forward to supporting diverse research with bi+ populations in her role as Programming Coordinator for the Bisexual Issues Committee.

Student Representative
Isabel Benjamin, MS
Isabel (she/her) is a current doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. She received her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Theatre from Williams College. Her research focuses on how stigmatizing experiences impact the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ populations, with particular interests in minority stress experiences across the lifespan, bi+ individuals, and mental healthcare utilization. Clinically, she is interested in evidence-based trauma-informed care for adults of all ages, and at the intersections of marginalized identities. Isabel lives in Chicago, where she has received clinical training in private practice, academic-medical, and VA settings. Isabel enjoys game nights with friends, spending time with her cats, and taking dance classes.

BIC Campus Representatives

Kayla Frallicciardi
Clinical Psychology PsyD Program
Albizu University, Miami Campus
Jordan Keough
Counseling Psychology MSc. Program
University of Calgary
Han Yu
Clinical Psychology PsyD Program
The George Washington University

Committee News and Events

Bi+ Education

Stay on the lookout for our upcoming webinars! These events aim to help provide insights for researchers, scholars, and advocates alike on ways to support positive health and well-being among the bisexual+ population, with a particular emphasis placed on intersectionality within the community.

Points of Biew Newsletter (formerly "News Beyond the Binary")

Here are the recent issues of our newsletter, Points of Biew. Previous issues have focused on topics including navigating the workplace, exploring the impact of minority stress, and ways to develop a more queer-friendly space in the therapy room.

Summer 2025 issue (PDF, 392KB)opens in new window
Winter 2025 issue (PDF, 412KB)opens in new window

BIC’s Annual Symposium

Each year, BIC holds an annual symposium at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention featuring various speakers who are dedicated to bisexuality+ research, advocacy, and clinical work.
Learn more about BIC’s previous symposiumsopens in new window.

Annual Awards

Apply to be a Student Representative

Student representatives help bring student concerns to the BIC leadership and engage students and trainees in current events/activities of the Bisexual Issues Committee. These positions are open to all graduate student members of Division 44 with an interest in bisexual issues. You do not need to be a graduate student in a psychology program to apply. If you are interested, please email us.

Division 44 listserv

To keep up with all BIC-related news, join our listservopens in new window!