25 years ago, Psychology stopped seeing diversity as a disease

The year 2024 is one of celebration and renewal of Brazilian Psychology’s ethical commitment to the field of sexualities. Published in 1999, the Resolution of the Federal Psychology Council (CFP) that establishes standards of action for psychologists in relation to the issue of sexual orientation completes 25 years in force. CFP Resolution No. 01/1999 formalized the understanding that for Psychology, sexuality is a constituent of each subject’s identity and, therefore, homosexualities do not constitute a disease, disorder or perversion.

The regulation represented a milestone for Brazilian Psychology, paving the way for other resolutions aimed at the professional performance of psychologists on topics related to sexuality. Its guidelines also echoed in other fields of guaranteeing rights, impacting spheres such as equal marriage, same-sex adoption and inheritance rights.

In a country in which reports of homophobia increased by 90.27%, compared between the first half of 2022 and the same period in 2023, according to data from the Data Panel of the National Human Rights Ombudsman, regulations that recognize the legitimacy of these experiences , are necessary and urgent.

In the 25 years since its publication, the regulation has also undergone numerous judicial attempts to partially or completely prevent the Resolution from being in force, such as the actions filed in 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Resolution 1/99 also faced so-called sexual reversal therapies. However, all these attempts did not prevent Brazilian Psychology from stating that it will not be an instrument for promoting suffering, prejudice, intolerance and exclusion.

To celebrate this important trajectory, the Federal Council of Psychology will carry out a set of activities throughout 2024 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Resolution CFP 01/99. The first of these took place on March 22nd, the anniversary of the publication of the regulations, with the virtual dialogue “Resolution CFP 01/1999: 25 Years Coloring Psychology”, which recalled stories, challenges and the confrontation of attacks suffered in this room. century of validity of the regulations, as well as its importance for protecting the rights of the LGBT+ population.

“After 25 years since its publication, Resolution CFP 01/1999 was and still is decisive for Psychology’s ethical commitment to recognizing the diversity present in the sexual orientation of subjects as legitimate experiences and expressions worthy of depathologizing approaches. It is a regulation that paved the way for a series of other guarantees for this population in Brazil – an experience that has even inspired other nations”, highlights the president of the CFP, Pedro Paulo Bicalho.

By Ezatamentchy