TheAssociation of LGBTQ Psychiatrists, originally theAssociation of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists (AGLP), is an organization that educates and advocates onlesbian,gay,bisexual, andtransgender (LGBTQ) mental health issues.
The organization informally began in the late 1960s, when lesbian and gay members of theAmerican Psychiatric Association (APA) met during its annual conferences. Following the APA's declassification of homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973, the Caucus of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Members of the American Psychiatric Association was officially founded. A primary function of the caucus was to advocate to the APA on LGBT mental health issues. The Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists grew out of the caucus, and was founded in 1985.[1] The group changed its name in 2015, but continues to be known as "AGLP".[1]
In 1978, the Caucus successfully petitioned the APA to create a task force on lesbian and gay issues. That task force has since been elevated to a full standing committee in the APA.[1]
Since 1982, the organization has been recognized as a representative in the Assembly of the APA, speaking directly on matters of special concern to lesbian and gay members of the APA.[1]
In 1983, the Caucus successfully petitioned the APA to create a task force on psychiatric aspects ofAIDS, which ultimately led to the 1984 publication of two important APA volumes:Innovations in Psychotherapy with Homosexuals andPsychiatric Implications of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. In 1988, that task force was elevated to a full standing committee in the APA.[1]
