APS Member Groups

'Gay and Lesbian Issues and Psychology Review' seventh issue

The August 2008 issue of GLIP Review, edited by Lynne Hillier, Jane Edwards and Damien Riggs is now available. The issue features a diverse range of papers and commentaries focusing broadly on LGBT health. These include papers on the relationship between community and wellbeing amongst lesbian and bisexual women; the experiences of young same-sex attracted people negotiating religious discourse; a review of documents relating to gay men's health; findings from research conducted in New Zealand on heteronormativity in public mental health services; and research reporting on a workshop developed to challenge heterosexism within psychological practice. The issue also includes one commentary on psychoneuroimmunological approaches to HIV, another on practice with transgender people, plus three book reviews.The full issue, along with submission guidelines, issue deadlines, calls for contributions, previous issues and other details for the journal are available on the GLIP Review page.

Literature review on LGBT-parented families released

The Interest Group has been involved in writing a literature review of research on LGBT-parented families. This has been an extensive project summarising this body of research that highlights the differences between lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and heterosexual families, and which emphasises the positive findings for children who grow up with LGBT-parents. This is an important document for LGBT-parented families as it provides clear support for policy and legislative change on the basis of empirical evidence. The review, authored by Liz Short, Damien W. Riggs, Amaryll Perlesz, Rhonda Brown and Graeme Kane, can be accessed from the APS Public Interest website.

Special issue of 'InPsych' on gay and lesbian issues The Interest Group was pleased to be involved with the production of the April 2006 issue of the APS bulletin 'InPsych', which focuses on gay and lesbian issues. Included in the issue are three feature articles: The lead article is by Daryl Higgins, President of the ALSO Foundation. Daryl's article focuses on a wide range of issues facing same-sex attracted people currently in Australia. The second article is by Damien Riggs, National Convenor of the Interest Group. Damien examines the role of the APS in relation to LGBTIQ rights advocacy. In the final article Warrick Arblaster looks at psychological components of the Australian Federal Police's gay and lesbian liason officer network training program. The InPsych issue also includes a report on the Interest Group's recent work. You can check out the issue via the APS website by clicking here. It is very encouraging that the APS is giving focus to the issues facing LGBTIQ people in such a prominent way, and congratulations are due to the InPsych team for producing such an excellent issue.

'Out in the Antipodes' publication and launches

GLIP Conference: a day of celebration

The anniversary of the removal of homosexuality from the DSM and the diversity of the lesbian and gay community were the two mains themes at the APS Gay and Lesbian Issues and Psychology (GLIP) Interest Group conference entitled 'Changing their minds: celebrating our diversity'.

The one-day conference was held on Saturday, October 25 2003 at the Gryphon Gallery, Graduate Centre, Melbourne University. The title of the conference was influenced by the Academy Award nominee for best documentary 'Changing our minds' - the inspirational story of Dr Evelyn Hooker, whose work was instrumental in depathologising homosexuality.

The conference program comprised two keynotes, two symposia showcasing the research of Australian and New Zealand students, a practice forum on Internalised Homophobia and the documentary of Dr Evelyn Hooker.

The two invited keynotes were Dr Vivienne Cass and Dr Lynne Hillier, who entertained, challenged and inspired participants. Dr Cass, a Western Australian psychologist who has had a strong research and media profile for many years, challenged psychologists to get back into the game of examining and researching human sexuality and sexual orientation. She reflected that cultural and biological theorists (social constructionist and geneticists respectfully), have taken centre stage in the exploration of sexual attraction and orientation, and argued that psychologists should be adding their scientific voice to this area of investigation.

Dr Hillier from Latrobe University's Centre for Sex, Health and Society, celebrated the resilience and humour of young same-sex attracted people and how they develop safe places to explore, learn and discuss sexual orientation and attraction.

The diverse research showcased in the two symposia were well received and as one of the symposium presenters and conveners, Helen Fawkner, reflected: "It bodes well for the future when the student research work is of this calibre - not only theoretically strong but with much thought given to the practical and clinical applications of their work."

It may only be 30 years since homosexuality was depathologised, however it is somewhat comforting to observe debates in Australia centre around superannuation, conception and parenting, as opposed to whether lesbians and gay men should be imprisoned, lobotomised, castrated, or be given electric shock in order to change their sexuality. Sadly, this is not the case for gays and lesbians in other parts of the world.

Graeme Kane
Conference organising committee member