Michèle M. Schlehofer, PhD, reported that a joint statement was prepared by Division 44, Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity and Division 27, Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA) opposing a January 11, 2023 request made by the Florida Governor’s Office asking for detailed information about services that Florida colleges and universities have provided over the past five years to people with gender dysphoria. That statement can be downloaded from the Division 44 website. It was written thanks to the Division 44 Public Policy Committee co-chairs Kay Trotta and Kim Skerven, as well as Tina Patterson and Judd Harbin, who assisted with writing the statement, and Gary Howell, who shared input from Florida Psychological Association.
The joint statement notes that this request raises privacy concerns, given the small population of transgender and gender diverse students, and that this specific information may pose threats to both student privacy and treatment confidentiality.
It also urges Congress to pass the Equality Act, a comprehensive piece of civil rights legislation which would prohibit discrimination against members of the LGBTQ+ community in a wide range of areas, including healthcare and higher education.
Furthermore, it encourages that care be given to gender diverse students, families with gender diverse students, and faculty and other higher education professionals who care for them and help teach them daily.
“Division 44 and SCRA will continue to fight against institutional, medical, and political oppression and discrimination and will continue to advocate for all gender diverse students in Florida and across the nation. For clinicians and other mental health professionals, please see this PDF on LGBTQ Social Justice & Advocacy: A Resource Guide for Psychologistsopens in new window, created by the APA Division 44 Public Policy Committee.”
J. Kim Penberthy, PhD, President of APA Division 12, The Society of Clinical Psychology, issued a statement of support for the joint statement on behalf of their board of directors.
“There are a variety of beliefs and values about social issues. The Society of Clinical Psychology (SCP) takes a scientific and ethics-based approach to determining the Society’s position on social issues. Recently, APA Division 44 (Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity) and APA Division 27 (Society for Community Research and Action) issued a Joint Statement Opposing Requests for Transgender Student Information. The Board of Directors of the Society of Clinical Psychology affirm our support for transgender individuals and for the statement issued by Divisions 44 and 27.
“The context for SCP’s support of this joint statement is related to recent events and their relevance to clinical practice and risk to vulnerable students on college campuses. Recently, healthcare information about transgender students was requested in Florida from colleges and universities by the Florida State Budget Director, such as diagnoses of gender dysphoria, requests for gender affirming mental and medical care, etc. Such requests raise privacy concerns relevant to HIPAA and divert from our APA general ethical principles of (1) Beneficence and Nonmaleficence (General Principle A) as the collection of patient data of a targeted group without their consent may cause harm to those individuals and further barriers to care and (2) Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity (General Principle E) because it is psychologists’ duty to protect the rights and welfare of vulnerable communities. In concert with these ethical concerns, our stance is supported by empirical research spanning across the social and medical sciences that (1) robustly indicates that transgender individuals experience mental health problems at disproportionate rates and face numerous distinct barriers to health care service including, but not limited to, discrimination and a lack of adequately trained providers, and (2) the compounding negative impact of anti-trans legislation on transgender people's mental health. This research has also evidenced that gender-affirming care substantially reduces numerous negative outcomes. The cornerstone of clinical practice is the confidentiality that engenders the therapeutic alliance imperative for effective clinical work.
“As such, the Board of the Society of Clinical Psychology (Division 12) stands with Division 44 and 27 in denouncing these state-instituted actions against transgender college students in Florida.”
Division 44 member Nicholas Grant, PhD, pointed out that there is an opportunity to join efforts in organizing a nationwide coalition of providers to share information and resources to fight back against legislative and regulatory attacks on gender-affirming care and growing threats against gender-affirming care providers.
As a result of the legislative and regulatory attacks on gender-affirming care and growing threats against gender-affirming care providers, GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality is supporting Whitman-Walker in efforts to organize a nationwide coalition of providers to share information and resources to fight back.
Whitman-Walker is currently seeking more providers to get involved, particularly those who are interested in providing testimony and advocacy. As health professionals, you have a unique perspective on the importance of gender-affirming care. We need your voice to protect these vital rights.