The American Psychological Association (APA), the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States, has adopted what it calls a “groundbreaking” policy in support of evidence-based care for transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse children, adolescents, and adults.
The policy (PDF) was approved by APA’s governing Council of Representatives at its meeting on February 24, with a vote of 153-9 with one abstention. The resolution asserts, among other things, that:
State bans on gender-affirming care and the imposition of legal penalties on providers engaging in evidence-based care disregard the comprehensive body of psychological and medical research supporting the positive impact of gender-affirming treatments…. The imposition of such bans poses a direct threat to the mental health and emotional well-being of transgender, gender diverse, and nonbinary youth, exacerbating the already high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts among this vulnerable population.
The resolution therefore:
- Supports policies that “facilitat[e] access to comprehensive, gender-affirming healthcare for children, adolescents, and adults … recognizing the positive impact on mental health outcomes”;
- Emphasizes intersectional psychological and medical care that “takes into consideration the many facets of an individual’s experience”;
- Opposes state bans on gender-affirming care and efforts to obstruct access to evidence-based interventions;
- Supports efforts to address the dissemination of false information;
- Upholds the right of everyone to unbiased health insurance coverage, and encourages insurance providers to offer coverage that addresses the healthcare needs of transgender, gender-diverse, and nonbinary people;
- Highlights the need for ongoing research and expansion of the scientific foundation;
- “Affirms the essential role and legal rights of parents and caregivers in taking action to ensure the well-being of children and adolescents while honoring their expressed gender identity, including involvement in the process of healthcare decision-making, as well as the role of parents, caregivers, and providers in supporting developmentally appropriate youth self-advocacy.”
That last one is critical, as anti-LGBTQ folks often frame their views in terms of “parent’s rights.” Yet parents of trans kids are sometimes forced to flee their home states in order to provide their kids with the care they (and the scientific evidence) deem necessary.
The APA has issued resolutions supporting people of all sexual orientations and gender identities (and their children) since the 1970s, including one back in 2008 specifically on “Transgender, Gender Identity & Gender Expression Non-Discrimination.” A 2020 “Resolution on Supporting Sexual/Gender Diverse Children and Adolescents in Schools” offered support for transgender and gender-diverse young people, but the most recent resolution is the first to explicitly affirm a commitment to gender-affirming care for people of all ages, as far as I am aware.
The resolution has no legal impact and is not binding upon the APA’s 157,000 members, but will be another tool in the toolkit of advocates for transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse people. As APA President Cynthia de las Fuentes said in a statement:
The adoption of this resolution reaffirms APA’s dedication to promoting inclusivity, dignity and access to quality health care for all individuals, regardless of their gender identity or expression. It sends a clear message that state bans on gender-affirming care disregard the comprehensive body of medical and psychological research supporting the positive impact of such treatments in alleviating psychological distress and improving overall well-being for transgender, gender diverse and nonbinary individuals throughout their lives.
Let’s hope that that message gets heard by those who need to hear it.