2021 Annual Report of the Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity (CSOGD)

2021 Members

• Saanjh Aakash Kishore, PhD, chair, (2019-2021)
• Daniel Ryu, PsyD, chair-elect (2020-2022)
• Elizabeth Baumann, PhD (2019-2021)
• Kathryn Wagner, PhD (2020-2022)
• Anjali Alimchandani, PhD, MPP (2021-2023)
• Brandon Hoeflein, PhD (2021-2023)

There shall be a Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity (CSOGD) whose mission shall be to:

• Study and evaluate on an ongoing basis how the issues and concerns of sexual orientation and gender diverse (e.g., Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer [LGBTQ]) psychologists can best be dealt with;
• Encourage objective and unbiased research in areas relevant to sexual orientation and gender diverse (e.g., LBGTQ) adults and youths and the social impact of such research;
• Examine the consequences of inaccurate information and stereotypes about sexual orientation and gender diverse (e.g., LBGTQ) adults and youth in clinical practice;
• Develop educational materials for distribution to psychologists and others; and
• Make recommendations regarding the integration of these issues into the APA’s activities to further the cause of human rights of sexual orientation and gender diverse (e.g., LBGTQ) individuals and communities.

• Videoconferencing Monthly Meetings: February
• Spring Consolidated Meeting in-person: March 20
• Videoconferencing Monthly Meetings: April, June, August
• Fall Videoconferencing Meeting: October 9
• Videoconferencing Monthly Meetings: December

Members of the committee have a wide range of lived experiences and identities including, but not limited to trans/transgender, cisgender, non-binary, woman, man, gender non-conforming, queer, gay, deaf, person who stutters, Black, bi-racial, Indian American, White, Asian American, early career, and mid-career. 

There was a total of 25 activities that CSOGD participated in or initiated in 2021.

Table 1

Presentations

• None

Comments

• Sleep Psychology Specialty Renewal Petition
• Counseling Psychology Specialty Renewal Petition
• Speciality Guidelines for Forensic Psychology
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Framework
• Op-Ed by APA President, Jennifer Kelly, “Politicians should follow the science on gender-affirmation treatments”
• Informed staff for an interview with CBS News
• Proposed Student Learning Outcomes for Introductory Psychology
• National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula
• Proposed Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Women with Serious Mental Illness
• Resolution on Poverty and Socioeconomic Status
• APA Resolution on Police and Community Interaction and Police Use of Excessive Force in the United States
• Guidelines for Assessment and Intervention with Persons with Disabilities

Publications

• None

Recognitions

• The Committee selected Paz Galupo, PhD to receive its 2021 Outstanding Achievement Award.

Resolutions and Guidelines Creation/Development

Completed

• Resolution on Gender Identity Change Efforts
• Resolution on Sexual Orientation Change Efforts
• Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Sexual Minority Persons 

In Development

• Task Force Report on Differences of Sex Development
• Revising Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People

Advocacy

• None

Collaborative Meetings

• Ongoing communication and collaboration with BAPPI liaison. 
• Ongoing collaboration with Division 39 via liaison Elizabeth Clark, PsyD
• Collaboration with NCSPP via liaison Konjit Page, PhD at Spring Consolidated Meeting
• Oversight of APA Leadership and Participation in the International Network on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Concerns and Transgender Issues in Psychology (IPsyNET). CSOGD member Dr. Alimchandani, represented the committee in quarterly meetings of the APA Oversight Group that monitors APA’s involvement with IPsyNet, which includes representatives from BAPPI, CIRP, APAGS, and Divisions 44 and 52.
• TOPSS Lesson Plan Review - The Psychology of Sexual Orientation: A Modular Lesson Plan/Teaching Resource for High School Psychology Teachers. CSOGD member Dr. Page, coordinating committee efforts to review and update this lesson plan from 2008.  Collaboration with Education Directorate and APA members who teach high school psychology.
• APA Task Force on Difference of Sex Development. An interdisciplinary task force charged with producing a report and make recommendations. Collaboration with Division 54. CSOGD monitoring progress.
• APA Task Force to Update and Revise the Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People.