December 10, 2008

Dear Faculty, Alumni, and Students,

Historically, the M.A. in Psychology program has encouraged many of you to become members of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). This recommendation has been called into question by our learning that CAMFT has refused to oppose Proposition 8, the California measure that struck down the right of lesbian and gay people to legally marry. In fact, we believe continued membership to be in direct conflict with our mission, should CAMFT fail to reconsider their current stance regarding Proposition 8 by their next board meeting in January.

We think it important that you know that the American Psychological Association (APA) has taken a stand to oppose this measure, along with the American Psychiatric Association, and the National Association of Social Workers and its California chapter. CAMFT alone remains silent. We do not feel that this silence should be condoned.

If you are curious to read some of the research that indicates that gay and lesbian families are no less healthy than their non-gay counterparts, please review the following APA document, for example, http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/policy/parentschildren.pdf

For your information, membership in CAMFT includes a modest discount for liability insurance and the ability to receive advice on legal and ethical issues. You should consider a decision to withdraw from CAMFT against the loss of these benefits.

Should you wish to become involved, there is an important action that you can take by joining our colleagues at Larchmont Associates and signing the petition below that will be submitted to CAMFT on January 1, 2009.

You may also be interested in reading the attached open letter from Antioch University Los Angeles to the CAMFT Board that represents our institutional and faculty response.

Thank you for your attention and consideration of this important issue.

As all of you know, since its inception, the mission of Antioch University has been one of social justice, equality and inclusiveness. Our publicly stated values include “dismantling ethnic biases, heterosexism, sexism, classism, ageism, ableism, discrimination based on religious, cultural, and political affiliations and other forms of oppression.” Antioch University prides itself in the education of responsible global citizens, who are charged with challenging their professions in meaningful ways. Also Antioch University Los Angeles is the first master’s program in the country to offer an LGBT Specialization in Clinical Psychology. Because of this legacy, the President and M.A. in Clinical Psychology Core and Associate Faculty are in agreement in giving our individual and institutional support to an issue we feel is critically important.

Sincerely,

Neal King Ph.D.,
President, Antioch University Los Angeles

Joy Turek Ph.D.,
Chair, MA in Clinical Psychology, Antioch University Los Angeles

Douglas Sadownick, Ph.D.,
Director, LGBT Specialization in Clinical Psychology, Antioch University Los Angeles

Core/Associate Faculty,
Antioch University Los Angeles