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Including the LGBT Tribe
Bruce R. Watkins, Ph.D., LAGPA Co-President

Last year, LAGPA petitioned the Board of Psychology to mandate LGBT issues as a required continuing education class. The BOP promptly informed us that they don’t mandate anything. Instead, they regulate what the California State Legislature mandates.

And so, we turned our eyes on the legislature. We realized that the California Psychological Association (or CPA) lobbies the state legislature for the profession of psychology. I have been in contact with the executive director of CPA, Dr. Jo Linder-Crow.

She informs me that CPA does not believe in mandated CE because: (1) CPA’s membership does not like mandated CE (2) Mandated CE is not the best way to inform psychologists because (3) There is no way to regulate the quality of the courses that would soon be offered.

Furthermore, she did not believe that such a bill, as we want the legislature to consider, would pass.

Consequently, I have abandoned the project of mandated continuing education. I believe it has turned into a dead-end.

Instead, I would like to pursue a new project. Jo Linder-Crow has invited LAGPA to join with her and CPA in mainstreaming and promoting LGBT issues in the profession of psychology.

She points out that CPA has already done much for LGBT people, and would like to do more.

First, when same sex marriage was being reviewed by the California State Supreme court, CPA joined with APA in an amicusbrief. The court cited this amicus brief (more than the 50 others that it considered) as promoting their decision to order same sex marriage in California. They liked it because it provided information based on credible research.

Second, once Proposition 8 started, CPA took a strong official stand against it, even though they normally do not get involved in a ballot issue.

Jo (like Dr. Sharon O’Connor at the BOP) asked us to submit an article to be published in CPA’s magazine. I have written and submitted this article, entitled, “Including the LGBT tribe in CPA.” It was accepted for publication in the May/June edition of The California Psychologist. In fact, the chief editor of that magazine is Dr. Kirwan Rockefeller. He is a former president of LAGPA (1996), and was delighted with my article. He has also suggested that we approach Jo to establish a Division of CPA devoted entirely to LGBT issues.

This would definitely mainstream LGBT therapists into the profession of psychology. Furthermore, we wouldn’t need to mandate continuing education. Instead, our division could publish an article in each edition of The California Psychologist.

Think of it! Every time that magazine is published, we could dedicate a column to informing all of California psychology about LGBT issues.

LAGPA will be hosting a booth and presenting a morning workshop at the annual convention of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association in October, 2010 in Culver City.

Dr. Lauren Costine and Dr. Bruce Watkins will present: “LGBT: from Cultural Competency to Advanced Perspectives.” Attendees will learn fundamental ways to practice LGBT cultural competency, including how to affirmatively treat LGBT people.

Dr. Watkins will present his expertise, “Object relations, codependency and a gay man.” Dr. Costine will present her expertise, “Lesbian liberation: Releasing yourself from the chains of heterosexism and internalized lesbianphobia.”

Our appearance at the LACPA convention is part of LAGPA’s overriding purpose to mainstream LGBT therapists into the profession of psychology in california.

Several months ago, we approached the California Psychological Association with this purpose in mind. Our interaction with their executive director, Dr.
Jo Linder-Crow, led to several advancements.

First, she arranged an entire day of LGBT continuing education at their annual convention on April 16. Next, she arranged a meeting at that convention to discuss “What CPA can do next for LGBT people.”

That meeting was attended by over 40 people, including the president of CPA and high ranking officials of APA. We made plans to start an LGBT section in Division VII of CPA. This section would give LGBT therapists a platform from which to educate California Psychologists.

Jo also set up a listserve group for us, “CPA LGBT.com,” to interact across the state, and share LGBT information.

Finally, CPA designed a pro-LGBT button to distribute at APA’s convention in San Diego, this year (shown at right).

And so, our presence at LACPA this year is our next step in mainstreaming LGBT therapists into the profession of Psychology in California. We would love to see you there. If you attend, you will be receiving an entire day of continuing education.

The convention will be held Saturday, October 23, 2010, at the Radisson Hotel, Culver City, after the 16th Annual LAGPA Conference. For more information contact LACPA at (818) 905-0410.