President’s welcome.

Abstract

It is with excitement and great expectations that the Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues—Division 44 of the American Psychological Association—launches its flagship journal, Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity (PSOGD). As President of the Society, I have the distinct honor of presenting this first issue. To be sure, though, there were many individuals whose efforts led to this momentous occasion. As John Gonsiorek, the Founding Editor of PSOGD, has articulated in these pages, the Society had deliberated the notion of a journal for many years, with crucial input from a host of members over more than two decades, including many of the luminaries of the Society. Of utmost importance to all who were involved was ensuring that any journal published by the Society would be of the highest quality possible. I believe that when you read this first issue, you will agree with me that this goal is now being achieved. What will unfold over the next several issues is the collective vision of those who have participated in planning for PSOGD. You will find a combination of empirical and theoretical articles, as well as ongoing thoughtful dialog about the topics and concerns raised in these articles. The Society’s aim for PSOGD is that it be a sort of crucible for developing, testing and refining our understanding of the psychological issues related to gender diversity and sexual orientation. In addition, we hope that this better understanding will then be applied to improve health care, refine education and strengthen advocacy efforts. I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation for the outstanding efforts of our Founding Editor, John Gonsiorek. He has mentioned that this first issue was completed on a tight timeframe. What is truly amazing is that he assembled a distinguished editorial board, obtained a healthy number of high-quality manuscripts, and produced a first issue in barely more than a year. Kudos!