News & Events

Div. 44 sponsors several events throughout the year. They include scholarly presentations, social gatherings and cross-disciplinary meetings, offering opportunities for connection and transformation in the company of LGBT and ally colleagues.

• LGBTQ+ psychology group applauds expanding protections for sexual and gender diverse individuals (PDF, 112KB)
  Div. 44 (The Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity) of the American Psychological Association (APA), applauds the May 10, 2021 decision1 of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to enforce federal prohibitions on sex discrimination to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

• Professional psychology groups urge the U.S. Department of Education to protect LGBTQ+ students at religious colleges and universities (PDF, 454KB)
  Our signing professional psychological groups affirm the importance of religious diversity and freedom of religious expression. Further, our groups recognize that religion and spirituality (R/S) are important to the lives of thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people. This is an official statement of the Divisions, Societies, and Associations listed above, and does not represent the position of the American Psychological Association or any of its other Divisions or subunits.

• Div. 44 and APAGS publish report on impacts of COVID-10 on psychology education and training
  The pandemic further exacerbates systemic inequities that disproportionately impact graduate students who are people of color, neurodiverse, international, immigrant, trans, queer, non-binary, and/or from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. This report summarizes the concerns of graduate students, early career psychologists, and the broader training community.

• LGBTQ+ psychology group applauds U.S. Supreme Court employment discrimination decision (PDF, 76KB)
  APA's Div. 44 applauds the June 15, 2020, decision of the United States Supreme Court.

• LGBT psychology group opposes Trump administration decision to remove non-discrimination in healthcare protections (PDF, 105KB)
  Div. 44 opposes the federal government’s rollback of nondiscrimination protections for sexual and gender diverse people in the Affordable Care Act.

• Solidarity with AAPA
  Div. 44 (The Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity) of the American Psychological Association stands in solidarity with the Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA). We affirm the humanity of all Asian and Asian American communities, while also committing ourselves to anti-racist policies and practices. We endorse their statement denouncing xenophobia, discrimination and racism that have been amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Div. 44 Leaders Collaborate with GLMA
  The Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity was well represented at the 37th GLMA Annual Conference in LGBTQ Health in New Orleans, La.

• LGBT Psychology Group Opposes Trump Administration Attempts to Weaken Nondiscrimination in Health Care Protections
  Div. 44 opposes federal efforts to weaken nondiscrimination protections for sexual and gender diverse people in the Affordable Care Act.

• Nicholas E. Grant, PhD, recognized as APA Citizen Psychologist
  For his stellar leadership and service to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) communities, Grant has been recognized with the APA Citizen Psychologist Presidential Citation.

• Transgender students’ discrimination complaints should be heard (PDF, 142KB)

• Letter of concern to Department of Education from APA and Div. 44.
  Transgender military ban is discriminatory and spreads prejudice about transgender people and gender dysphoria (PDF, 82KB)

• Div. 44 statement affirming APA’s opposition to the ban.
  Official Div. 44 Endorsements for APA President-elect 

• As its meeting at convention in Washington, D.C., the Executive Board of Div. 44 unanimously voted to endorse the candidates: Rosie Phillips Bingham, Raymore DiGiuseppe and Steven Hollon.

• Div. 44 Statement on Charlottesville
  Div. 44 has issued a statement regarding the August 2017 events in Charlottesville, Va.

• 2017 Div. 44 Elections
  Statements from the candidates for the positions of president, treasurer and member-at-large for the 2017 Div. 44 elections.

• Distinguished Elder Award Speech
  Ruth Fassinger, Div. 44, shares her acceptance speech from the National Multicultural Conference and Summit (NMCS), January 2017.

• Working with Clients Postelection
  Three clinicians reflect on their clinical work with clients after the 2016 election.

• I Am Stigma-Free
  Graduate Student Reflection: Supportive language and navigating difficult discussions around HIV serostatus.

• Division Awards Annual Deadline Approaching
  The annual deadline for many Div. 44 awards is March 30. Please visit the Div. 44 Awards page to find awards for engagement, scholarship, to support travel to conferences and more.

• Statement of Support for APA Leadership From the Div. 44 Executive Committee
  Div. 44 expresses its appreciation to APA’s governing Council of Representatives and Board of Directors for their leadership in developing association responses to many of the issues raised by the Independent Review.

• Div. 44 has signed a joint letter (PDF, 212KB) to the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Department of Health and Human Services, concerning a proposal to include sexual orientation and gender identity information and categories in the HHS certification process for electronic health record systems. The letter, however, points out that the proposed categories are not adequate in capturing the reality of identities and expressions of sexual orientation and gender minorities, and proposes new language.
  
  Altogether 152 organizations and several dozen individuals sign the letter. Thanks to key colleagues at Fenway Institute (Harvey Makadon, Adrianna Sicari and Andrea Karis), Kellan Baker at the Center for American Progress, and Elina Alterman at the National Partnership for Women and Families for their help understanding this complex process and their logistical support.

In his first month as president of the American Psychological Association, Barry Anton, PhD, awarded presidential citations to two members of Div. 44's presidential trio.

At the National Multicultural Conference and Summit in Atlanta, Michael L. Hendricks, PhD, received a citation, "For his critical work on behalf of transgender and other gender nonconforming individuals." The certificate cited Hendricks' expertise in "theoretical, evaluative and treatment concerns for transgender and other gender nonconforming individuals" and his lead role in the development of the Minority Stress model for transgender persons which "brings his expertise in suicide assessment and management to this particularly vulnerable population." Anton cited evidence of Hendricks' "dedication to the needs of gender nonconforming clients in particular and LGBT clients more broadly."

Then, at the Division Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., just a little more than a week later, Allen M. Omoto, PhD, received a citation, "For his passionate dedication to social justice and to bringing psychological science to bear on social policy." Omoto's certificate cited his "strong and lasting commitment to social justice and inclusion through his research, publications, teaching and mentorship, and leadership." The certificate noted that Omoto "inspires and leads his students and his colleagues to affect social justice through the science of psychology by his passion, his dedication...and by the example he sets for integrating his values into his personal and professional life."

Both recipients were unaware that they would be honored in this way. The surprise, it turns out, is a part of Anton's plan in presenting his presidential citations throughout the course of this year.

• 128th APA Annual Convention
  Aug. 6-9, 2020
  Washington, D.C.