Updated LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Practice Guidelines for (South) African Psychology and Mental Health Care Professionals: An Intervention Tool in Hate Studies

South African psychology is leading a bold agenda to advance the public health of people who identify as sexually and/or gender diverse, that is, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and/or asexual (LGBTQIA+). In particular, the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) has supported and led the development of Practice Guidelines for Psychology Professionals Working with Sexually and Gender-Diverse People , first published in 2017 and updated in 2025. These guidelines draw on affirmative practice, a lens and standpoint that recognises, respects, and remains informed about diverse identities, and uses this knowledge to enact progressive ways of working with and understanding LGBTQIA+ identities. Affirmative praxis, as a combination of critical theory and social action, is a counterweight against hate – where hate is to invalidate and ‘other’ a human being, affirmative praxis is a call to validate and respect LGBTQIA+ people. Evidence-based psychological science faces increasing pushback from the anti-gender and anti-rights movements, including repressive legislation in both African and Global North countries. This growing discourse of hate against LGBTQIA+ people necessitates renewed scholar-activism to protect and enhance the hard-won rights in a South African context. As part of this South African Journal of Psychology ( SAJP ) Special Section on Hate Studies, the article discusses how the updated guidelines respond to global and local shifts in LGBTQIA+ science, politics, and activism. The PsySSA guidelines amplify a call to action to practitioners to actively prevent the negation of sexually and gender diverse identities, work against homo-, bi- and transphobic discrimination and erasure, end unethical conversion practices, and reduce hetero-cisnormativity in all our areas of practice.