Advocating for LGBTQ+ Rights in Public Policy

CAMFT is proud to officially support the following legislation moving through the California state legislature: 

• SB 372: (Menjavar): CAMFT co-sponsored this bill protecting  the privacy and ensuring the safety of transgender and nonbinary individuals by eliminating the use of deadnames at the Department of Consumer Affairs for licensed professionals who have changed their legal names. Legislation passed and signed by the Governor September 2023.
• ACA 5 (Low): Marriage Equality Act. CAMFT is currently supporting ACA 5. The bill was referred to the committee on Judiciary on June 6, 2023.
• HR 33 (Ward)  & SR 33 (Eggman): Recognition of LGBTQ+ Pride Month. These resolutions wre adopted on June 6, 2023.

Stay tuned to CAMFT’s ENewletters and The Therapist magazine for important updates on this and other legislation

The Trevor Project

View the latest resources and guides from The Trevor Project, a leading supporter of the LGBTQAI+ community. 

Transgender Resources for MFTs

Access a bevy of resources for MFTs working with trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive clients courtesy of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), including standards of care guidelines, educational resources, advocacy efforts and more.

American Psychological Association

The APA’s Toolbox to Promote Healthy LGBTQ Youth and the Safe and Supportive Schools Project. 

Supporting the California LGBTQ+ Legislative Caucus

CAMFT Executive Director Joy Alafia joined the California LGBTQ Leadership Caucus at a fundraising event featuring a special performance by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, the world’s first openly gay chorus whose members use music to connect communities while standing up against bigotry and discrimination.

2023 Workshop: Clinical Considerations When Treating Parents of Gender Diverse Children

At our 2023 annual conference, Linda Reeves, LMFT led a workshop that provided an overview of the parent transition experience and how clinicians can best support that journey.

2023 Workshop: Gender-Affirming Medical and Mental Health Care for Transgender Adolescents

At our 2023 annual conference, Johanna Olson-Kennedy, MD and Aydin Olson-Kennedy, LCSW led a workshop on a multidisciplinary care model to review the impact of gender dysphoria on adolescent development and available medical interventions.

Bridging the Gender Gap: Guiding Trans Youth on Their Journeys to Themselves

In the November/December 2022 issue of The Therapist, Gretchen Cooper, LMFT discussed best practice principles for gender affirming care when working with transgender youth. 

Affirming Care: How Therapists Can Support Patients Seeking Gender-Affirming Medical and Surgical Treatments 

In the September/October 2021 issue of The Therapist, Bradley J. Muldrow, JD provides an overview of key legal and ethical issues for therapists writing referral letters for patients seeking gender-affirming medical and surgical treatments, including what to include when providing letters. 

CAMFT’s 2015 Statement on Therapy with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming (TGNC) Clients

CAMFT respects human diversity, including variations in gender identity and gender expression and believes being transgender or gender nonconforming (TGNC) are positive and healthy variations of gender identities and gender expressions. 

CAMFT’s 2016 Statement on Conversion Therapy (SOCE)

CAMFT opposes the use of psychological interventions to change any person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions, based on a priori assumption that same-sex attraction and/or gender nonconformity is a mental disorder or deficiency or based on a priori treatment goal that clients should alter their sexual orientation or gender identity.

CAMFT’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement 

It is a core value in CAMFT to support, promote, and protect diversity, to value all individuals and groups free from prejudice and oppression, and to foster a climate

where equity and mutual respect are intrinsic.