CPA & SOGII Policy & Position Statements
CPA / SOGII Endorsement of the IPsyNet Position Statement & Commitment
At the 2018 CPA Annual Convention, co-hosted with ICAP, the IPsyNet Position Statement & Commitment was officially unveiled during a reception in which the statement was read in 7 of the languages in which it is currently available. From the IPsyNet Website: "The document states that lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) identities are normal and healthy variations of human experience and that all human beings are worthy of dignity and respect, including respect for diversity on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, and differences of sex development. The document condemns discrimination toward and stigmatization of LGBTIQ+ identities, supports LGBTIQ+ public policies that ensure equal treatment under the law, and supports the development and implementation of LGBTIQ+ affirmative psychological and medical services." The full statement can be read by Clicking Here and is available in English, French, Russian, Spanish, German and Portuguese. Soon it will also be available in Chinese, Hungarian and Norweigan.
CPA / SOGII Policy Statement: Conversion & Reparative Therapy for Sexual Orientation
The Canadian Psychological Association opposes any therapy with the goal of repairing or converting an individual’s sexual orientation, regardless of age. Conversion therapy, or reparative therapy, refers to any formal therapeutic attempt to change the sexual orientation of bisexual, gay and lesbian individuals to heterosexual (e.g., Nicolosi, 1991; Socarides & Kaufman, 1994). It can include prayer or religious rites, modification of behaviours, and individual or group counselling (Bright, 2004; Nicolosi, 1991).
Click here to read the full Policy Statement
2010 - 1 Gender Identity in Adolescents and Adults
The Canadian Psychological Association affirms that all adolescent and adult persons have the right to define their own gender identity regardless of chromosomal sex, genitalia, assigned birth sex, or initial gender role. Moreover, all adolescent and adult persons have the right to free expression of their self-defined gender identity.
The Canadian Psychological Association opposes stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination on the basis of chromosomal sex, genitalia, assigned birth sex, or initial gender role, or on the basis of a self-defined gender identity or the expression thereof in exercising all basic human rights. (October 2010)
2006 - Same Sex Marriage
In 2003, the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) supported Bill C-38, the federal government’s legislation legalizing same-sex marriage across Canada. CPA’s support was initiated in response to public debate about the effect of same-sex marriage on children. CPA’s review of the psychological research led us to conclude that the children of same-sex parents do not differ from the children of heterosexual parents in terms of their psychosocial development, their gender development and their gender identity.
View the full Position Statement here (PDF).
1996 - 1 Public Statement by Paul Cameron on Homosexuality
The Canadian Psychological Association takes the position that Dr. Paul Cameron has consistently misinterpreted and misrepresented research on sexuality, homosexuality, and lesbianism and thus, it formally disassociates itself from the representation and interpretations of scientific literature in his writings and public statements on sexuality. (August 1996)
1996 - 2 Equality for lesbians, gay men, their relationships and their families
The Canadian Psychological Association supports the inclusion of sexual orientation as a protected ground of discrimination against lesbians, gay men, their relationships and their families in all human rights legislation, public policy, regulation, procedure and practice; and
The Canadian Psychological Association strongly opposes prejudice, bias and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in all areas including spousal and family relationships, benefits and privileges, employment, goods, services, facilities, housing and accommodation.
1982 - 1 Discrimination on Sexual Orientation
The Canadian Psychological Association endorses the principle that there be no discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation (a) recruitment; (b) hiring; (c) salary; (d) promotion rate; (e) fringe benefits; (f) assignment of duties. (February 1982)
1982 - 2 Discrimination on Sexual Orientation
The Canadian Psychological Association endorses the principle that there be no discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation - in the education of graduate students with respect to: (a) recruitment of graduate students; (b) acceptance of students into graduate programmes; (c) recommendation of students for scholarships, fellowships, loans, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships. (February 1982)