According to Healio (11/22, Hemphill), in a Nov. 21 news release, “the American Psychiatric Association said it ‘stands in solidarity’ with the LGBTQ community in the aftermath of the shooting at Club Q Nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and amidst ongoing discrimination.” The release stated, “Bias toward LGBTQI people, whatever form it takes, hurts mental health.” In addition, the release said, “We stand opposed to laws and rhetoric that discriminate against [the LGBTQ] community, whether it is promoting dangerous conversion therapy or restricting provision of health care services to trans or gender-diverse individuals.”
Psychiatric News (11/22) reports, “As APA has responded to past acts of mass gun violence, the organization asserted that gun violence is a public health crisis.” The association stated, “APA has worked over the past years, often in concert with other physician and mental health organizations…to promote legislation that strengthens background checks, research, and other methods to control access to firearms.” In addition, “APA strongly opposes rhetoric that would link violent acts of hate and mass shootings to mental illness.”
Related Links:
— “APA supports LGBTQ community in wake of nightclub shooting “Nancy Hemphill, Healio, November 22, 2022