June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the important contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other individuals who are gender or sexual minorities. Highlighted below are the contributions from just a small sample of well-known LGBTQ+ psychologists. In addition, you may be interested in reading research articles on topics that are directly relevant to these communities. Many of these articles have been published in the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity (the publication of the Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity), Journal of LGBT Youth, Transgender Studies Quarterly, Journal of Homosexuality, Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health, and Journal of Bisexuality.
Meg-John Barker, PhD
Dr. Meg-John (MJ) Barker, who identifies as non-binary and queer, earned their PhD in psychology from the University of Nottingham in 1998. As a Senior Lecturer at both London South Bank University and The Open University, they conducted research on gender identity with emphasis on non-binary and genderqueer identities and experiences, as well as sex and relationships with special attention to such topics as bisexuality, sadomasochism, and polyamory. Dr. Barker was a co-founder and editor of the journal, Psychology & Sexuality, and they wrote numerous books on gender and sexuality, including Life Isn’t Binary; How to Understand Your Sexuality; and Rewriting the Rules: An Anti Self-Help Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships. In addition, they worked as a psychotherapist, providing therapy to LGBTQ+ clients, and they wrote a good-practices guide on gender, sexual, and relationship diversity for the British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy.
Dana Jennett Bevan, PhD
Dr. Dana Bevan, formerly Thomas Edward Bevan, earned her PhD in physiological psychology from Princeton University in 1973. She is a member of the Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, the Ryan White Taskforce to eradicate HIV, and the United States Professional Association for Transgender Health that sets healthcare standards for transgender people. Dr. Bevan is an expert on the psychological and biological science of transgenderism, having written multiple books on the subject, which include The Psychology of Transgenderism: A New View Based on Scientific Evidence; Being Transgender: What You Should Know; and Transgender Health and Medicine: History, Practice, Research, and the Future. Beyond her work on transgenderism, she is also veteran, served as an officer in the US Army Medical Service Corps reserves for 11 years, and conducted biopsychology and artificial intelligence research for the military, for which she received an Innovation Award from the US Army.
Isiaah Crawford, PhD
Dr. Isiaah Crawford, an openly gay psychologist and academic administrator, received his PhD in clinical psychology from DePaul University in 1987. Over the next 16 years, he conducted research on personality theory and community psychology, with many of his publications exploring the mental and physical health of Black gay and bisexual men. In 2003, Dr. Crawford shifted his focus to administration, holding various positions that included president of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, president of the Clinical Psychologists Licensing and Disciplinary Board of the Illinoi Department of Professional Regulation, chair of the Department of Psychology at Loyola University in Chicago, dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Loyola University in Chicago, provost and chief academic officer of Seattle University, and most recently president of the University of Pugent Sound in Washington—a position that he has held since 2016. The American Psychological Association (APA) has honored him with three awards acknowledging his early scholarship in ethnic minority psychology and his later leadership in higher education.
Beverly Greene, PhD
Dr. Beverly Greene, a renowned lesbian psychologist, earned her PhD in clinical psychology from Adelphi University in 1983. She is currently a professor at St. John’s University, where she continues her productive research on oppressive ideologies, intersectional identities, the impact of prejudice, and the psychological resilience and mental healthcare of marginalized people. Dr. Greene was also the founding co-editor for the Journal of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies and for APA’s book series, Psychological Perspectives on Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Issues. In recognition of her outstanding work, she has received distinguished career contribution awards from multiple organizations that include APA, the Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity; the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race; the Society for the Psychology of Women; the Association for Women in Psychology; and the Society of Clinical Psychology.
Kevin Leo Yabut Nadal, MD
Dr. Kevin Nadal, an openly gay psychologist, obtained his PhD in counseling psychology from Columbia University and is currently a distinguished professor at the City University of New York. His research explores the impact of microaggressions on the mental and physical health of LGBTQ people, Filipino Americans, and other marginalized groups. Dr. Nadal has written many books that include Dismantling Everyday Discrimination: Microaggressions Toward LGBTQ People, Microaggressions and Traumatic Stress: Theory, Research, and Clinical Treatment and Filipino American Psychology. Moreover, he co-founded the LGBTQ Scholars of Color National Network, and he served as president for both the AAPA and the Filipino American National Historical Society. Dr. Nadal has been recognized with APA’s Early Career Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest, AAPA’s Award for Early Career Contributions to Excellence, and the Emerging Professional Award for Research from the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race.
Julia Shaw, PhD
Dr. Julia Shaw (she/her), who is very vocal about her bisexuality, earned her PhD in psychology from the University of British Columbia in 2013. Currently a research associate at the University College London, she investigates the science behind memories being forgotten, distorted, and sometimes completely false, with major implications in eyewitness memory and criminal psychology. Dr. Shaw’s publications comprise several journal articles and books, including the bestsellers, The Memory Illusion: Remembering, Forgetting, and the Science of False Memory and Evil: The Science Behind Humanity’s Dark Side. Further, she is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion, having co-founded Spot to provide employees with both diversity training and a platform to report inappropriate workplace behavior. Finally, relevant to her own identity and the desire to inform more people about bisexuality, Dr. Shaw wrote the book, Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexuality.
Andrew Solomon, PhD
Dr. Andrew Solomon (he/him), a renowned gay writer and activist, earned his PhD in psychology from the University of Cambridge in 2013. He is currently a professor at Columbia University Medical Center and a lecturer at Yale University. Dr. Solomon’s work has been published in a variety of outlets, and his books have received numerous awards. For instance, his book Far from the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity (about how parents accommodate their children who have marginalized identities) won the National Book Critics Circle Award and was identified by the New York Times as one of the 100 best books of the 21st century, and his book The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression (about the complexities of depression, its impact, and treatment) won the National Book Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His work on mental health and his activism have earned him much recognition, including humanitarian awards from various organizations.