Report of the APA Joint Divisional Task Force on Sexual Orientation & Military Service

47 Pages·2009·0.37 MB·English

AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
Society of Military Psychology (Division 19)
&
Society for the Psychological Study of
Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Issues (Division 44)
Joint Task Force on Sexual Orientation &
Military Service
FFIINNAALL RREEPPOORRTT
Accepted by the APA Council of Representatives February 2009
ReportoftheAPAJointDivisionalTaskForceonSexualOrientation&MilitaryService 2
ReportoftheAPASociety ofMilitaryPsychology (Division19)& APASocietyforthe
PsychologicalStudyofLesbian,Gay,andBisexualIssues(Division44)JointDivisionalTask
ForceonSexualOrientationandMilitaryService
http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/militaryhomepage.html
Printedcopiesavailable from:
Lesbian,Gay,Bisexual,andTransgenderConcernsOffice
PublicInterestDirectorate
American Psychological Association
750FirstStreet,NE
Washington,DC20002-4242
202-336-6041
[email protected]
Suggestedbibliographic reference:
APASocietyofMilitaryPsychology (Division19)&APASociety forthe Psychological Study ofLesbian,
Gay,andBisexual Issues (Division44)JointDivisionalTask ForceonSexual Orientationand Military
Service.(2009).Reportofthe jointdivisionaltaskforceonsexualorientation andmilitary service.
Washington,DC:Author.
Copyright©2009 by the American PsychologicalAssociation.This material may bereproducedinwhole
orinpartwithoutfees orpermissionprovidedthatacknowledgmentis given to the American
PsychologicalAssociation.This materialmaynotbereprinted,translated,ordistributedelectronically
withoutpriorpermissioninwriting fromthe publisher.Forpermission,contactAPA, Rightsand
Permissions,750FirstStreet,NE,Washington,DC20002-4242.
APAreports synthesizecurrentpsychologicalknowledgeinagivenareaandmayofferrecommendations
forfutureaction.Theydonotconstitute APApolicyorcommitAPAtotheactivities describedtherein.This
particularreportoriginated with the APA Society ofMilitary Psychology (Division 19)&APASocietyfor
the Psychological Study ofLesbian,Gay,and Bisexual Issues (Division44)JointDivisional Task Force
on SexualOrientation and MilitaryService.
ReportoftheAPAJointDivisionalTaskForceonSexualOrientation&MilitaryService 3
Society of Military Psychology (Division 19)
&
Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Issues
(Division 44)
Joint Divisional Task Force on Sexual Orientation and Military Service
CO-CHAIRS
Henry L. Taylor, PhD
Robin A. Buhrke, PhD
MEMBERS
Kimberly F. Balsam,PhD
Gregory M. Herek, PhD
Robert S. Nichols,PhD
John Pachankis
WayneS. Sellman,PhD
Will Wilson, PhD.
APA STAFF LIAISONS
ClintonW. Anderson, PhD
Heather O’Beirne Kelly, PhD
ReportoftheAPAJointDivisionalTaskForceonSexualOrientation&MilitaryService 4
In 2005, the AmericanPsychological Association Society of Military Psychology
(Division 19) andSociety for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual
Issues (Division 44) established the Joint Divisional Task Force on Sexual Orientation
and Military Service.The Task Force was charged with developing a plan for
implementing the 2004 APA Resolution on Sexual Orientationand Military Service
(Appendix A) and other recommendations of the APA Task Force on Sexual Orientation
and Military Service (Appendix B). The Joint Divisional Task Force operated from 2005
– 2007 with funding from thetwo Divisions, the Committee on Division/APA Relations,
the Board of Directors, and the Council of Representatives.
The Task Force completed its Final Report in 2008. It has been approved by the
Executive Committees ofboth Divisions,and received by the APA Council of
Representatives.
ReportoftheAPAJointDivisionalTaskForceonSexualOrientation&MilitaryService 5
Areas of Activity
Advocacy
In the 2004 ResolutiononSexual Orientationand Military Service (Appendix A),APAresolved to takea
leadership roleamong nationalorganizationsinseeking toeliminatediscriminationinandby the military
basedonsexualorientationthrough federaladvocacyand allotherappropriate means. The2004 APA
Task Forcefurtherrecommended thattheAPAassessopportunitiesforadvocacytoeliminate
discrimination in the militarybasedon sexualorientation,especiallyopportunitiesforcoalitionswith other
professional organizations and/orcivilrights advocacyorganizations (Appendix B).
As partofthe APAassessmentofadvocacy opportunities,in 2005 as the Task Forcebeganits work,
ClintonW.Anderson,PhD,Director,Lesbian,Gay,Bisexual,andTransgenderConcerns Office,
contacted the Service Members’Legal Defense Network,theAmerican CivilLiberties Union,andthe
National Gay andLesbianTaskForcetoseekinformationabouttheirinterestandactivities in thisarea
andtoseektheirrecommendationsforAPAadvocacy.
Three areas ofadvocacy were identifiedinthese consultations:
(1) Repealby CongressofTitle X,UnitedStatesCode,Section 654 (Appendix B4),the lawthat
requires thatall persons who engageinhomosexualconductbeseparated fromthe U.S.
armedservices,andadoption by Congress oflawsthatprohibitsexualorientation
discrimination in the U.S.military;
(2) OverturningTitle X,UnitedStates Code,Section 654,in the Courts;
(3) Psychotherapyprivilege forsexual orientationwithinthe U.S.military system.
Repeal.In thelasttwo Congresses,Rep. Martin Meehan(D-MA)introducedThe Military Readiness
EnhancementAct(Appendix C),whichaims toamend Title 10,United States Codeto replace thecurrent
policyconcerninghomosexualityin theArmedForces with apolicyofnondiscriminationonthebasisof
sexual orientation.So far,therehasbeen no equivalentbill introduced in the Senate. APAGovernment
RelationsstaffHeatherO’Beirne Kelly,PhD,andJeffMcIntyre,have been monitoring the bill forAPA.
Rep.Meehan hasretired and Rep.Ellen O.Tauscher(D-CA)has indicatedinterestinleadershiponthe
bill. Ahearingon thebill washeldonJuly23,2008,by the House Armed Services CommitteeMilitary
Personnel Subcommittee,SusanA.Davis (D-CA),Chair. APAhas developed abriefingsheetsupporting
theadoptionoftheMilitary ReadinessEnhancementAct,whichhas been published on the APA’swebsite
asa resource forAPAmembers touseinadvocacy (AppendixD).
.
Amicus briefs. APAhasnotbeen contactedby partiesto militarycases requesting thatwe file an amicus
briefinanycase,butifsuch acasedoes come before the U.S.SupremeCourt,APAwouldbeverylikely
to considerfilingabrief,becauseofits clearpolicyposition on theissues,becauseofitshistoryoffiling
similarbriefsinearliermilitary cases,andbecauseofthestrong body ofresearch relevantto the issues.
Psychotherapyprivilege. TheAPAOffice ofthe General Counsel,incollaboration with theLesbian,Gay,
Bisexual,and TransgenderConcerns Office,developeda requestforrule-making thatwassentto the
DepartmentofDefense on December17,2007 (Appendix E). In itsletter,theAPArequestedthatthe
Departmentamend the administrativeseparationpolicytopreventstatementsaboutsexualorientation
made withinthepsychotherapist-patientcontextfrombeing used forthe purpose ofadministrative
separation forhomosexualconduct. APAreceiveda responsedated April 3,2008,thatindicated a
willingnessonthepartofthe Departmenttoconsiderpolicychange(Appendix F).
Data Collection
The2004 APATaskForcefurtherrecommendedthatthe APAfacilitatethe collectionofdatafrommilitary
psychologists who are mental healthproviders aboutthe implementation ofthe U.S.lawon
homosexuality in thearmedservicesandthe impactofthe lawonmentalhealth servicesprovision.
ReportoftheAPAJointDivisionalTaskForceonSexualOrientation&MilitaryService 6
TheTaskForcedevelopeda questionnaire to collectinformation frommilitary clinicalpsychologistsabout
theimplementationofthe U.S.lawon homosexuality in the armedservices andtheimpactofthelawon
mentalhealthservices provision. Initially,the Task Force hopedtogain accessthrough the Department
ofDefenseto militaryclinicalpsychologists,butinformal contacts withthe Departmentindicated clearly
thatsuchaccess wouldbe veryunlikelytobegranted. As an alternative,theTaskForcedecided touse
thequestionnairetosurvey approximately600 active and retired military-related practitioners whowere
subscribedto the Division 19 practice list-serve. In collaboration withtheAPACenterforWork Force
Analysisand Research,theLesbian,Gay,Bisexual,and TransgenderConcerns Office implemented the
onlinesurveyinfall 2007 using SurveyGizmo.Duringaperiodoffourweeks fromSeptember27to
October29,2007,severalemail messages were posted on the listby thelistadministratorrequesting
subscribers’ participation in thesurvey anddirecting themtothe internetsiteatwhich thequestionnaire
couldbecompleted. Data werecollected anonymouslyand analyzed exclusivelybystaffmembersofthe
APALesbian,Gay,Bisexualand TransgenderConcerns Office. No data wereshared withanyone
outside the APA. Seventy-five respondentscompleted thesurvey (approximately 12.5% ofthe list
subscribers). Thesurveyand thesummaryoftheresultsareincluded as AppendixG.
In itsdeliberations,theTask Forcealsoconsidered thepotentialbenefits ofresearch on militaryservice
personnel,butdecidedthatthechallengestoaccessing lesbian,gay,andbisexual militarypersonnel for
research would be beyond the resourcesofthe Task Force.
As aproxy forsurveydataonlesbian,gay,and bisexualservice members,KimberlyF.Balsam,PhD,
provideda summaryoftheresultsofresearchshe conducted withseveralcolleaguesonlesbian,gay,
andbisexualveterans(Appendix H).
ProfessionalEducation
In the 2004 ResolutiononSexual Orientationand Military Service (Appendix A),APAresolved toactto
ameliorate thenegativeeffectsofthecurrentlawthrough thetrainingandeducationofpsychologists.
The2004 APATaskForcefurtherrecommendedthatthe APAdevelop educationalmaterials withthe
goal ofimprovingthe capability ofmilitarypsychologists to provide effectiveservicesand tohelp
consumersoftheseservicesunderstand thelimits ofconfidentiality.
Withregardtothedevelopmentofeducational materials,the APATaskForceinits reportenvisioned that
the materials couldbedevelopedthrough acollaborative effortofDivisions19and44,APAGS,and the
APAEthics Office and mightincludethe following:
 Aprofessionaljournal articleonconfidentialityand otherissuesrelated to providingpsychological
services tomilitary personnelunderthecurrentlaw;
 Informational materials (e.g.,pamphlet,webpage)summarizingissues relevanttosexual
orientation andtheprovisionofservices by militarypsychologists;and
 Informational materialsforservicemembers addressinggeneral issues ofconfidentiality inall
psychologicalservices in the U.S.military.
Workshop. RobinA.Buhrke,PhD,and BradJohnson,PhD,collaboratedon thedevelopmentofa
workshop formilitaryclinical psychologists designedtohighlightappropriate andethicalstrategies for
addressing theneeds ofGLBclientsin militarysettings. This workshop wasoriginallyplannedtobe
offeredasa CEworkshopatthe2006 APAConventioninNewOrleans. Membersofthe Division44
Executive Committeeviewedandapprovedtheproposed workshop.Atthe March2006 meeting,Robin
Buhrkenotedinherupdate thata workshop ofthiskind wouldnotbeoffered atthe 2006 APAconvention,
butmay beofferedfor2007.TheTask Forceplanned atwo-hoursymposiumduringthe normalprogram
forthe2007convention withone hourcontributedby Divisions19and 44. Aworkshop formilitaryclinical
psychologistsdesigned tohighlightappropriate andethicalstrategies foraddressingtheneeds ofGLB
ReportoftheAPAJointDivisionalTaskForceonSexualOrientation&MilitaryService 7
clientsin militarysettings was planned andconductedattheannual APAconvention in 2007. The
workshop blueprintwillbemadeavailabletoothers tofacilitatea broaderimpact.Ajointsymposiumwas
alsoconducted attheconvention.
Publications
An articlebyBrad Johnson (United States Naval Academy)and Robin Buhrke (DukeUniversity)entitled
“Service Delivery in a‘Don’tAsk,Don’tTell’World:Ethical CareofGay,Lesbian,and BisexualMilitary
Personnel”wasaccepted forpublicationinProfessional Psychology:Research andPractice.
Gregory Herek(UniversityofCalifornia,Davis)and Aaron Belkin (University ofCalifornia,Santa Barbara)
authored achapteron “Sexual OrientationandMilitary Service:Prospects forOrganizational and
Individual ChangeintheUnitedStates”toappearin A.B.Adler,T.W.Britt,&C.A.Castro (Eds.),Studies
in Military Psychology.
Kimberly Balsam(UniversityofWashington)andcolleagues are preparingseveral manuscripts for
publicationbased on thedata they collectedfrom445GLBTmilitaryveterans.
PublicandMemberInformationaboutSexualOrientationandMilitary Service
The APALesbian,Gay,Bisexual,andTransgenderConcernsOfficehas publishedcontentrelatedthe
sexual orientation and militaryservice on the APAwebsite
http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/militaryhomepage.html
Inter-divisionalCollaboration
In addition to theJointDivisionalTaskForce,during the periodoftheTaskForce’soperationin2005-
2007,Divisions 19 and44haveeachsentrepresentatives to the other’smid-winterexecutivecommittee
meetings,in orderto facilitatecollaboration. Thiscommitmenthasbeenrenewed for2008-2010.
ReportoftheAPAJointDivisionalTaskForceonSexualOrientation&MilitaryService 8
Summary of Outcomes
Aworkshopformilitaryclinicalpsychologistsdesigned tohighlightappropriate andethicalstrategies
foraddressing theneeds ofGLBclientsin militarysettings was planned andconductedattheannual
APAconvention in 2007. The workshopblueprintwill be madeavailable to others to facilitate a
broaderimpact.Ajointsymposiumwasalsoconductedatthe convention.
Severalprofessionalpublications,onepractitioner-oriented article,andone contemporaryresearch
reviewofsexual orientationand militaryservice,have beenpublished.
Publicserviceinformation formilitary personnelonsexualorientation,currentfederallawinthisarea,
resources foradvocacy,support,andclinicalassistance was developed anddistributed.
TheTaskForcedevelopedprocedures toenable APAto take aleadershiprole amongnational
organizations to eliminate discriminationbasedonsexualorientation in militaryservice.
In ordertoameliorateeffectsofcurrentlaw,APAhas requested thattheDepartmentofDefense
address existingregulations explaining therulesofconfidentiality whichapplywhen military
personnelreceivepsychological diagnosticandtreatmentservices.
TheTaskForce,withthe assistanceoftheAPAresearchoffice,hasdeveloped,administeredand
analyzed asurvey tocollectdata fromactiveduty,retiredand civilian militarypsychologists who are
mentalhealth providers,aboutthe implementation ofthe U.S.lawonhomosexualityinthe armed
services and theimpactofthelawon mental healthservicesprovision.
TheTaskForce worked withthe APAGovernmentRelations StafftodevelopanAPAFactSheet
basedona researchsummary by Greg Herekand AaronBelkin to be used whencontacting
Congressional Staffand membersofCongress.
2007APApresident,Sharon Brehm, wroteSecretaryofDefense RobertM.Gates to requestthe
establishmentofpolicybythe DepartmentofDefenseregarding psychotherapist-patientprivilege in
administrativeseparationproceedingson thebasis ofhomosexualconduct.
ReportoftheAPAJointDivisionalTaskForceonSexualOrientation&MilitaryService 9
Task Force Recommendations
TheTaskForcehas completed developinga Strategic PlantoimplementtheAPACouncil’s Resolution
on SexualOrientation and MilitaryService,butmuch work remains to be done. Inordertocomplete the
planned actionsdescribed above,the Task Force makes the following recommendations:
Funding to send liaison representativesforthe nextthreeyearstothemid-yearmeetingsofthe
respectivedivisionsshouldbeprovidedby the divisions.The Executive Committees ofDivision 19
and Division44 have approved the fundingandhaveappointed two liaisons (BradJohnson (19)/Jim
Fitzgerald (44)).They will take theleadin thefollow-upofremaining issues in thesix areas.The
Executive Committees shouldconsiderappointinganad-hocjointcommittee between19/44 withthe
liaisonsco-chairing thejointcommitteetocontinuethe work.
Liaisons shouldcontinue working withClinton Anderson (OfficeofLGBTConcerns)andPublic
InterestGovernmentRelationsStaff.
ActiveLegislative Advocacy
Monitorlegal casesinanticipationofconsidering filinga brief
Executive advocacy to followup on requestforrule-making.
ReportoftheAPAJointDivisionalTaskForceonSexualOrientation&MilitaryService 10
Table of Appendices
Appendix A 2004 APAResolutionon SexualOrientation and MilitaryService
Appendix B Final Reportofthe APATaskForceon Sexual Orientation and Military Service
Appendix C Military Readiness EnhancementActof2007
Appendix D American Psychological AssociationBriefing Sheet,SexualOrientation and Military
Service
Appendix E RequestforRule Making on Sexual OrientationDisclosuresin Psychotherapy
AppendixF Responseto the RequestforRule Making
Appendix G Psychological Services Access forLesbian,Gay,and BisexualMilitary Service
Members: Resultsofa SurveyofMilitary Clinical Psychologists
Appendix H Summary ofthe results ofresearch with gay,lesbian,andbisexualveterans