Education & Training
Education and training for psychologists interested in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex human rights issues includes the earning of initial requisite degrees, and also continuing education over the course of their careers in these contexts. However, academic programs often include nothing substantial, if anything at all, about the unique health and mental health needs of sexual orientation and gender diverse people.
Consequently, psychologists wishing to gain competency working with these populations, or who have knowledge and experience to share, must attend and participate in conference programming, read or contribute to pertinent literature and join and participate with colleagues in the activities of specialized groups, divisions or sections. Below is a list of research and continuing education offerings gathered by the International Psychology Network for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Issues (IPsyNet) are below.
Psychology Conferences
Psychology conferences and congresses take place at the local, national and international levels. The International Psychology Network for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues (IPsyNet) has worked since 2005 to increase the level of programming relating to sexual orientation and gender diversity at both member organization conferences and at key regional and international congresses, and to use them as opportunities to hold IPsyNet organizational development meetings.
Presentations & Training
IPsyNet programming at psychology conferences and congresses typically takes the form of invited and keynote address, invited or accepted symposia, and accepted individual papers and posters. This section contains examples of these types of programming related to sexual orientation and gender diversity.
Journals
Journals containing peer reviewed content are published by many universities and psychological associations and societies, as well as some special interest groups, divisions or sections, publish journals with peer reviewed content. Journals are a key means for furthering research-based knowledge, and discussing important findings and ideas. There are journals devoted to the topic of sexual orientation and gender diversity and issues, and others that publish occasional special editions devoted to the topic or some aspect of it.
Literature Reviews, Editorials, Newsletters, Articles & Reports
Literature that includes content published in scholarly journals and other literature that is important, though not scholarly, and not controlled by commercial publishers.
LGBT Human Rights Education
Human rights are rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled. In response to widespread, horrific violations of human rights in the first half of the 20th century, the international community established international human rights laws that lay down the obligations of governments to respect, protect and fulfill human rights.