A gay man will make history next year when he becomes president of the Illinois Psychological Association.
Long-time Chicago political activist Armand Cerbone, Ph.D., a former board member of the gay political group IMPACT and a
former singer with Windy City Gay Chorus, will serve as President-Elect starting June 28. July 1 of 2004 he begins his one-year term
as President of the board, and in 2005 he becomes Past President.
'I want to make some changes at IPA,' Cerbone said. 'I want more people of color involved, I want to see it look like the
professionals it represents, and to start addressing more public policy issues effecting mental health. I am looking to collaborate with
a lot of community groups and individuals who are providing services.'
Cerbone has served in leadership positions in state and national organizations. While the IPA is not part of the American
Psychological Association, the independent state organizations do work together with the APA on issues of mental health and
practice.
The IPA has a lobbyist in Springfield who lobbies on issues of mental health and practice, and public policy on mental health.
Earlier this year, Randy Georgemiller, a former president of IPA who is on the board of Equality Illinois, asked Cerbone to get the IPA
to back the state gay-rights bill. Georgemiller was not out as a gay man when he headed IPA, but he was seeking the IPA's clout now
in support of SB 101—Cerbone helped make that happen.
Cerbone has been in practice in Chicago since 1978. He also taught from 1978-1984 at the Illinois School of Professional
Psychology and introduced that school's first course on homosexuality.
During his nine or so years with the chorus, he served on the board of Windy City Performing Arts, and he is also a former board
member of Traveler's & Immigrant's Aid (now the Heartland Alliance).
In his professional capacity, Cerbone has also been involved with the APA nationally. He was co-author of the APA's guidelines
for psychotherapy with lesbian, gay and bisexual clients. APA adopted it as official policy in February of 2000.
He is also involved in the Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues—known as Division 44 of the APA.
APA has divisions organized around areas of professional interest and scholarship. Cerbone has been president of that division and
he has received awards from the division for distinguished contributions to practice and to education. He has also been chair of the
Committee on LGB Concerns, a board-level committee in the APA nationally. He is a fellow of the APA—that means he has made
distinguished contributions to the profession.
In Illinois, Cerbone established the sexual orientation issues section within the IPA—this gives representation on issues
impacting LGBT issues a voice and a vote on council policies. Cerbone also started the now-defunct Midwest Association of Lesbian
and Gay Psychologists—including getting them to march in the gay pride parade for about nine years.
The board post is volunteer, and Cerbone will keep his private practice (which is focused on LGBT issues) during this three-year
commitment.