Summer 2009
Randy Georgemiller, president, reported that the deadline for voting on the proposed bylaws amendment to change the name of Div. 44 to “The Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues” has come and gone. I am proud to announce that 97 percent of voting members (254 tes, 9 no) approved the name change — exceeding the necessary two-thirds majority mandated by our bylaws.
Judith Glassgold is the newly selected APA Congressional Fellow for 2009–2010. She is an independent practitioner and visiting faculty member at the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at Rutgers University. The Congressional Fellow is assigned to a member of Congress and assists with relevant legislative tasks.
Francisco Sánchez has been chosen as a delegate to the APA Fifth Annual Science Leadership Conference. This prestigious opportunity is extended to only 100 scientists. This year’s theme is “Enhancing the Nation’s Health Through Psychological Science.” The goal is to advocate for increased federal funding for basic and translational psychological research and training.
LGBT Specialization faculty members Lauren Costine and Douglas Sadownick recently welcomed Steven David as an associate professor. The LGBT specialization in master’s level clinical psychology at Antioch University, Los Angeles, is a one-of-a-kind focus of graduate study that addresses the deep need within our own and allied communities to confront our psychological selves and heal the damages caused by homophobia, both internalized and institutionalized to reach our worthiest potentialities.
Summer 1999
President Steven James noted how important reaching out and welcoming traditions are to the division and the role of the newsletter, email Listserv and website to do this for the division. He reported on the European Conference on Gay and Lesbian Youth, Schools and Families, where Div. 44 was regarded as an example of what other groups hope to be.
Barry Chung, newslettereditor, called attention to the fundraising dinner plans for the convention organized by Mason Sommers, Fundraising Committee chair.
Nina Nabors, an African American lesbian psychologist with rehabilitation and neuropsychology interests, raised the question of where she should put her energy in dealing with the ongoing struggle LGBT psychologists of color experience. “Why is it so difficult for oppressed groups to empathize with each other?” she asked.
Nancy Nangeroni, a well-known transgender community organizer, will be the keynote speaker at the convention, to be held in Boston. She produces and hosts a weekly radio talk show called “Gender Talk” in Cambridge, Mass.
Juli Konik and Greg Wells invited students to help staff the hospitality suite and stay in division-sponsored rooms. Sari Dworkin reacted to her first APA Council of Representatives meeting: “I actually enjoyed it.”
Davina Kotulski, of the public policy committee, reported on her presentation of the psychological aspects of marriage during the annual California Psychological Association Convention, following the movie, The Right to Marry. Much attention focused on the California “Knight Initiative” to prevent recognition of same-sex marriages.
July 1989
Instead of a presidential address by Adrienne Smith, “A Tribute to Alan Malyon: Speakers Whose Lives Alan Touched” will be held. Malyon was to serve as SPSLGI’s president this year, but illness prevented him from serving his term and he died earlier this year from lung cancer.
April Martin will present an address titled, “The Planned Gay and Lesbian Family: Parenthood and Children.”
Adrienne Smith, president, noted the twentieth anniversary of the Stonewall riots and the fifth anniversary of Div. 44. She reported that John Gonsirek and Beverly Greene will be co-authors of an annual series to last five years.
Armand Cerbone announced that the Association of Lesbian and Gay Psychologists (ALGP) will offer a leadership conference, Organizing for Support and Change; speakers include Florence Denmark, Steve Morin, Gregory Herek and Armand Cerbone. ALGP will also host the hospitality suite at the New Orleans Hilton during APA’s convention. The kick off party will be on Friday, and ALGP’s annual fundraising dinner and award banquet will be on Monday at the former residence of Tennessee Williams.
Ask Me About Div. 44 buttons will be available for five dollars. Donations will be contributed to the legal expenses of Karen Thompson, who has been denied the right to provide care to her disabled partner.
Clinton Anderson and William Bailey provided an update on the Watkins v. U.S. Army case, which was decided in favor of the gay Black army sergeant Perry Watkins; the brief filed by APA was partially paid for by the contributions of Div. 44 members. The brief was also used in the case of BenShalom v. Marsh, the case of an army reserve officer fighting against the refusal to allow her to reenlist.