Queer(y)ing Psychology began with a group of people interested in queering psychology getting together. This group included Darren Langdridge, Meg Barker, Lyndsey Moon and Ani Ritchie. The group is in its early stages, and arose principally from discussions amongst members of the British Psychological Society Lesbian & Gay Psychology Section.

The first few meetings were informal affairs with just the four people named above until Darren secured funding from the Discourse and Psychosocial Research Group (part of the Centre for Citizenship, Identities and Governance at The Open University) to hold a one day event to further the aims of the group (with the intention of applying to the ESRC for funds to hold a seminar series next year). This first formal meeting consisted of a group of people interested in exploring the mission of the group further. The queer(y)ing psychology group consisted mostly of, though not entirely, psychologists and even those of us who are psychologists are, perhaps not surprisingly, a rather unusual (and certainly unorthodox) bunch. Noreen Giffney and Michael O'Rourke (both University College Dublin) were speakers at this event talking about their own experience of establishing 'The(e)ories: Advanced Seminars for Queer Research' (PDF document).

Two readings were also used as triggers for discussion on the day:

• Warner (2004) – Queer Research Methodology
• Khayatt (2002) – Towards a Queer Identity

The day provided the opportunity for a great deal of discussion about the relationship of queer theories and politics with psychology and also the purpose of the group itself. It was agreed to continue our discussions with future events on specific topics with the aim of encouraging collaborative output on these issues within and outside the discipline.