Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity Research Manuscript Writing Guide

Abstract

The American Psychological Association Division 44 Science Committee created this guidance to provide support and assistance to thosewho conduct sexual orientation and gender diversity (SOGD) research.We aim to: (a) provide guidance to new researchers on publishing SOGD research; (b) advance the field by creating standards for publications; (c) support editors and reviewers in evaluating SOGD research; and (d) ensure that publications prioritize needs of two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual plus (2SLGBTQIA+) communities. Throughout, we discuss important aspects of SOGD researchmissing fromolder guides, including publishing in general journals, research focused on nonbinary identities, decolonizing SOGD research, embeddingwork in extant SOGDandBlack, Indigenous, and People ofColor scholarship, attention to language beyond avoiding bias, and interacting with reviewers and editors. We acknowledge that SOGD research is a relatively new and evolving field and that gender and sexual identities are dynamic. Thus, rather than create hard-andfast rules, we provide suggestions for thinking deeply about SOGD research and how to make ethical and informed decisions to ensure the 2SLGBTQIA+ community’s needs are at the forefront. We have organized this article to highlight seven publishing considerations, including: (a) theory/framing; (b) methodological considerations; (c) reflexivity/ethics; (d) language; and (e) responding to reviewers. We include a checklist to guide researchers and reviewers in evaluating SOGD manuscripts. Although we created this guidance for psychology researchers, it may be useful for researchers in other social science and health-related fields.