1. The American Psychological Association supports the action taken on December 15, 1973, by the American Psychiatric Association, removing homosexuality from that Association's official list of mental disorders. The American Psychological Association therefore adopts the following resolution:

Homosexuality, per se, implies no impairment in judgement, stability, reliability, or general social or vocational capabilities:

Further, the American Psychological Association urges all mental health professionals to take the lead in removing the stigma of metal illness that has long been associated with homosexual orientations.

2. Regarding discrimination against homosexuals, the American Psychological Association adopts the following resolution concerning their civil and legal rights:

The American Psychological Association deplores all public and private discrimination in such areas as employment, housing, public accommodation, and licensing against those who engage in or who have engaged in homosexual activities and declares that no burden of proof of such judgement, capacity, or reliability shall be placed upon these individuals greater than that imposed on any other persons. Further, the American Psychological Association supports and urges the enactment of civil rights legislation at the local, state, and federal level that would offer citizens who engage in acts of homosexuality the same protections now guaranteed to others on the basis of race, creed, color, etc. Further, the American Psychological Association supports and urges the repeal of all discriminatory legislation singling out homosexual acts by consenting adults in private. (1975)

Council voted to adopt as APA policy the following resolution concerning Colorado Amendment 2:

WHEREAS referenda to limit anti-discrimination legislation as it applies to lesbian, gay and bisexual persons have been proposed in several states and passed in one; and

WHEREAS the American Psychological Association has repeatedly stated its position that lesbian, gay, and bisexual orientation should not be the basis for discrimination; and

WHEREAS the American Psychological Association deplores the use of scientifically unsound research to support discrimination against lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons;

THEREFORE be it resolved that the American Psychological Association opposes the implementation of any state constitutional amendment or statute that prohibits anti-discrimination legislation for lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons because there is no basis for such discrimination and such discrimination is detrimental to mental health and the public good; and

THEREFORE be it resolved that the Council of Representatives of the American Psychological Association directs the chief executive officer to undertake immediate initiative to disseminate scientific information on sexual orientation to the state psychological associations and provide support in their advocacy efforts in the prevention of or challenge to state legislation that prohibits anti-discrimination for lesbian, gay, or bisexual persons; and

THEREFORE be it resolved that the CEO of the American Psychological Association take immediate steps to disseminate scientific information on sexual orientation to policy makers and to the public and to provide consultation to parties involved in constitutional challenges to legislation that prohibits anti-discrimination for lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons in those states in which such constitutional challenges are occurring; and

THEREFORE be it resolved that the CEO of the American Psychological Association will consult with the relevant state psychological association and will immediately consider a motion at the next Board of Directors meeting and the Council of Representatives meeting to neither sponsor meetings nor authorize participation of its representatives in meetings in any state in which a constitutional amendment or statute that prohibits anti-discrimination legislation for lesbian, gay, or bisexual persons has the force of law except when the purpose of the meeting is to work publicly to overturn the law in conjunction with state and local organizations. (August 1993)

WHEREAS the American Psychological Association deplores all public and private discrimination in such areas as employment, housing, public accommodation, and licensing against those who engage in or have engaged in homosexual activities and declares that no burden of proof of such judgement, capacity, or reliability shall be placed upon these individuals greater than that imposed on any other person,

Be it resolved that the American Psychological Association protests personnel actions against any teacher solely because of sexual orientation or affectional preference. (1981)

WHEREAS, the American Psychological Association (APA) deplores discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation; and

WHEREAS, APA will not let its publications, as advertising media, be used by others in support of discriminatory employment practices; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) maintains a policy that homosexual orientation is 'incompatible with military service'; and

WHEREAS, the DoD will not knowingly admit bisexual, lesbian or gay individuals to military service, including research and clinical internship programs in psychology; and

WHEREAS, an average of 1,500 men and women are unfairly discharged from military service each year because their sexual orientation becomes known;

THEREFORE, be it resolved that the APA opposes the DoD policy which finds homosexual orientation 'incompatible with military service'; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that APA take a leadership role among national organizations in seeking to change this discriminatory DoD policy, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that APA will not permit its publications, as advertising media, to be used by the DoD after December 31, 1992, unless the DoD policy that homosexual orientation 'is incompatible with military service' has been rescinded by that date.

In addition, Council approved the inclusion of the following statement with all advertisements from the U.S. Military Services:

'Policies of the Department of Defense prohibit military service for individuals of homosexual orientation. Applicants must meet age and physical requirements.'

Advertisements include printed announcements in APA publications, mailings using APA mailing lists and literature distributed at APA meetings. (August 1991)

WHEREAS society's attitudes, behaviors, and tendency to render lesbian, gay and bisexual persons invisible permeate all societal institutions including the family and school system; (Gonsiorek, 1988; Hetrick & Martin, 1988; Ponse, 1978; Uribe & Harbeck, 1992)

WHEREAS it is a presumption that all persons, including those who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual, have the right to equal opportunity within all public educational institutions;

WHEREAS current literature suggests that some youths are aware of their status as lesbian, gay, or bisexual persons by early adolescence; (Remafedi, 1987; Savin-Williams, 1990; Slater, 1988; Troiden, 1988)

WHEREAS many lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths and youths perceived to belong to these groups face harassment and physical violence in school environments; (Freiberg, 1987; Hetrick & Martin, 1988; Remafedi, 1987; Schaecher, 1988; Uribe & Harbeck, 1992; Whitlock, 1988)

WHEREAS many lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths are at risk for lowered self-esteem and for engaging in self-injurious behaviors, including suicide; (Hetrick & Martin, 1988; Gonsiorek, 1988; Savin-Williams, 1990; Harry, 1989; Gibson, 1989)

WHEREAS gay male and bisexual youths are at an increased risk of HIV infection; (Savin-Williams, 1992)

WHEREAS lesbian, gay and bisexual youths of color have additional challenges to their self-esteem as a result of the negative consequences of discrimination based on both sexual orientation and ethnic/racial minority status; (Garnets & Kimmel, 1991)

WHEREAS lesbian, gay and bisexual youths with physical or mental disabilities are at increased risk due to the negative consequence of societal prejudice toward persons with mental or physical disabilities; (Pendler & Hingsburger, 1991; Hingsburger & Griffiths, 1986)

WHEREAS lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths who are poor or working class may face

WHEREAS psychologists affect policies and practices within educational environments;

WHEREAS psychology promotes the individual's development of personal identity including the sexual orientation of all individuals;

THEREFORE be it resolved that the American Psychological Association and the National Association of School Psychologists shall take a leadership role in promoting societal and familial attitudes and behaviors that affirm the dignity and rights, within the educational environments, of all lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths, including those with physical or mental disabilities, and from all ethnic/racial background and classes.

THEREFORE be it resolved that the American Psychological Association and the National Association of School Psychologists support providing a safe and secure educational atmosphere in which all youths, including lesbian, gay and bisexual youths, may obtain an education free from discrimination, harassment, violence, and abuse, and promotes an understanding and acceptance of self;

THEREFORE be it resolved that the American Psychological Association and the National Association of School Psychologists encourage[s] psychologists to develop and evaluate interventions that foster nondiscriminatory environments, lower risk for HIV infection, and decrease self-injurious behaviors in lesbian, gay and bisexual youths.

THEREFORE be it resolved that the American Psychological Association and the National Association of School Psychologists shall advocate efforts to ensure the funding of basic and applied research on and scientific evaluations of interventions and programs designed to address the issues of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths in the schools, and programs for HIV prevention targeted at gay and bisexual youths.

THEREFORE be it resolved that the American Psychological Association and the National Association of School Psychologists shall work with other organizations in efforts to accomplish these ends. (February 1993)

WHEREAS, the experience of criminal and violent victimization has profound psychological consequences; and

WHEREAS, the frequency and severity of crimes and violence manifesting prejudice have been documented; and

WHEREAS, the American Psychological Association opposes prejudice and discrimination based upon race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or physical condition.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Psychological Association encourages researchers, clinicians, teachers, and policymakers to help reduce and eliminate hate crimes and bias-related violence and to alleviate their effects upon the victims, particularly those victims who are children, youth, and elderly,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the American Psychological Association supports government's collection and publication of statistics on hate crimes and bias-related violence, provision of services for victims and their loved ones, and interventions to reduce and eliminate such crimes and violence, and policies that perpetuate them. (1988)

Whereas societal ignorance and prejudice about same gender sexual orientation put some gay, lesbian, bisexual and questioning individuals at risk for presenting for 'conversion' treatment due to family or social coercion and/or lack of information (Haldeman, 1994);

Whereas children and youth often lack adequate legal protection from coercive treatment;

Whereas some mental health professionals advocate treatments of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people based on the premise that homosexuality is a mental disorder (e.g., Socarides et al, 1997);

Whereas the ethics, efficacy, benefits, and potential for harm of therapies that seek to reduce or eliminate same-gender sexual orientation are under extensive debate in the professional literature and the popular media (Davison, 1991; Haldeman, 1994; Wall Street Journal, 1997);

Therefore be it resolved that APA affirms the following principles with regard to treatments to alter sexual orientation:

Therefore be it further resolved that the American Psychological Association opposes portrayals of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth and adults as mentally ill due to their sexual orientation and supports the dissemination of accurate information about sexual orientation, and mental health, and appropriate interventions in order to counteract bias that is based in ignorance or unfounded beliefs about sexual orientation. (August 14, 1997)