2013

National Call-in: Montana Decriminalizes Sodomy

  • Steve Bullock, Montana’s Governor, signed a bill decriminalizing sodomy on Thursday, April 18, 2013 after the House and Senate passed the bill with bipartisan support. A surprising 19 states still have a law criminalizing same-sex intimacy despite the landmark ruling in Lawrence v. Texas in 2003, legalizing same-sex sexual activity in all states. Speakers will discuss current issues and legislation surrounding sodomy laws in the United States. Additionally, Montana’s efforts to pass this legislation will be examined. Speakers included Greg Nevins, Supervising Senior Staff Attorney at Lambda Legal; Brian Simons, Associate at Saul Ewing LLP; and Shane Vannatta, Past-President of the Montana State Bar Association.
  • Monday, April 22, 2013 | 12:00-1:00pm ET
  • Recording

 

National Call-in: Relationship Recognition and the Supreme Court (Part 2)

  • Building on our previous call-in, held on March 19, our knowledgeable speakers discussed the oral arguments in the two relationship recognition cases heard by the Supreme Court – Windsor v. United States and Hollingsworth v. Perry. The call focused on any insight the arguments gave towards possible Supreme Court rulings and how the decisions could impact the LGBT community. Additionally, the call analyzed the questions posed by the justices and the varied interpretations that have arisen following the arguments. Speakers included Mary Bonauto, Civil Rights Project Director at Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD); Shannon Minter, Legal Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR); and Paul Smith, Partner at Jenner & Block.
  • Tuesday, April 9, 2013 | 2:30-3:30pm ET
  • Recording

 

National Call-in: Relationship Recognition and the Supreme Court

  • The call discussed the pending relationship recognition cases in the Supreme Court – Windsor v. United States and Hollingsworth v. Perry – and the potential impact the decisions could have on the LGBT community. The call focused on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and the constitutional conflicts that arise when the federal government’s definition of marriage conflicts with state definitions. Speakers discussed possible Supreme Court rulings and what the varying decisions could mean for same-sex couples. Additionally, California’s Proposition 8 was examined, especially in terms of how a broad ruling could impact other states across the country. Our speakers, experienced legal practitioners, used their first-hand knowledge of the Court and these cases to look ahead to a potential watershed moment for the LGBT community. Speakers included Mary Bonauto, Civil Rights Project Director at Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD); Shannon Minter, Legal Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR); and Paul Smith, Partner at Jenner & Block.
  • Tuesday, March 19, 2013 | 12:00-1:00pm ET
  • Recording

 

National Call-in: Reauthorization of an Inclusive Violence Against Women Act

  • On March 7, 2013, President Obama made history by signing into law a fully inclusive Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that had been passed by Congress. One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime and VAWA helps victims get the help and support they need and also works towards preventing domestic violence altogether. This reauthorization marks the first time that VAWA has included protections for LGBT individuals, including gay men and the transgender community; Native American women; and immigrant victims who are not yet United States citizens. Additionally, it is the first time that LGBT individuals have had explicit protection from domestic violence and non-discrimination protection. Speakers included Rebecca Henry, the Deputy Chief Counsel of the Commission on Domestic Violence at the American Bar Association; Terra Slavin, the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center’s lead staff attorney in its Legal Services Department and Project Manager of its Domestic Violence Legal Advocacy Project; and Sharon Stapel,Executive Director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project.
  • Wednesday, March 13, 2013 | 3:30-4:30pm ET
  • Recording 

 

Spanish-Language National Call-in

  • Lawyers from Spain, Mexico and New York discussed being out in their communities and how it has affected their lives and their law practices. They described the LGBT legal situation where they live and work, including recent developments and cultural changes.  They then discussed the importance of Spanish language fluency for LGBT lawyers and trends for the future. Our speakers were Manuel Ródenas, who works for the Comunidad de Madrid; Abril Rodríguez Esparza, an associate with Tron Abogados Mexico; and Carlos Dávila-Caballero, the manager of diversity and inclusion at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton.
  • Abogados abiertamente LGTB de España, México y Nueva York discutirán ser LGTB en la profesión y en sus respectivas comunidades y cómo ser LGBT ha afectado sus vidas y desarrollo profesional. Los panelistas describirán la situación LGTB legal donde viven y trabajan, incluyendo desarrollos recientes y cambios culturales. Ellos discutirán la importancia de ser abogados LGTB que hablan Español y tendencias para el futuro. Los panelistas fueron Manuel Ródenas, que trabaja para la Comunidad de Madrid, Abril Rodríguez Esparza, asociado con Tron Abogados México, y Carlos Dávila-Caballero, Director de la diversidad y la inclusión en Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton.
  • Tuesday, February 5, 2013 | 12:00-1:00pm ET
  • Recording 

 

National Call-in: Issues in LGBT Immigration

  • The call focused on the general topic of LGBT immigration. Speakers discussed how the Defense of Marriage Act is especially debilitating for same-sex couples in the context of US immigration and nationality law and how rulings in the upcoming Supreme Court cases will affect LGBT families. Additionally, new developments in LGBT asylum were analyzed, including what is working and what is not in terms of keeping families together. The call was co-sponsored by Immigration Equality, a national organization fighting for equality under U.S. immigration law for the LGBT community. Victoria Neilson, executive director of Immigration Equality; Lavi Soloway, partner at Masliah & Soloway; and Scott Titshaw, a professor at Mercer University School of Law discussed the many issues that LGBT families and individuals face when it comes to immigration.
  • Monday, January 28, 2013 | 2:30-3:30pm ET
  • Recording 

 

2012

National Call-in: Current Issues Affecting Adoption by Members of the LGBT Community

  • November is National Adoption Month. More than 100,000 children are currently in foster care, waiting to find permanent, loving families. Unfortunately, there are numerous barriers in place that prevent LGBT families from adopting these children. Experts on adoption law will discuss the laws that impede same-sex couples from creating families as well as recent litigation challenging those policies and allowing LGBT couples to become loving parents. Speakers will cover topics such as the Indian Child Welfare Act, the Adar decision and state by state laws for adoptive parents. This call was co-sponsored by the Family Equality Council, a national organization committed to supporting LGBT families across the country, and featured speakers from the Family Law Institute, a group of experienced law practitioners jointly supported by the LGBT Bar and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of the Family Equality Council; Debra Guston, managing partner of Guston & Guston LLP; and Denise Seidelman, partner at Rumbold & Seidelman raised awareness about adoption law and helped promote National Adoption Month.
  • Wednesday, November 28, 2012 | 3:00-4:00pm ET
  • Recording

 

National Call-in: Election Day Relationship Recognition Victories

  • On November 6, four states featured relationship recognition measures on their ballots. In all four states –Maryland,Minnesota, Maine and Washington– voters awarded major victories to same-sex couples. In Minnesota voters struck down a ban on marriage equality. Maryland, Maine and Washington became the first three states to legalize marriage for same-sex couples through a ballot referendum. However, Arizona was the first state to reject a ballot initiative that would have banned forms of relationship recognition for same-sex couples, doing so in 2006. Experts from all four states will join us to discuss how victory was achieved and what the results mean for the LGBT community. Mary Bonauto, director of the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)’s Civil Rights Project; Carrie Evans, executive director of Equality Maryland; Jamie Pedersen, Washington State Representative and vice president and general counsel of McKinstry; and John Sullivan, corporate secretary of Minnesotans United for All Families examined how victory was achieved and what the results mean for the LGBT community.
  • Tuesday, November 13, 2012 | 12:00-1:00pm ET
  • Recording

 

National Call-in: Voter Suppression Laws in Florida

  • National LGBT Bar Association is hosting a national call-in that will discuss the voter suppression laws in Florida. Florida passed a law that reduced the early voting period from 14 days to 8 days and eliminated early voting the Sunday before the election. Also, voters are no longer able to update their registration at the polls if they have moved within the state. Another Florida law stipulated that all voter registration groups must register within the state. Parts of that law have been blocked, but many are still in effect. These laws unfairly target low income and minority populations who take advantage of early voting and often do not have the time or resources to fill out additional forms. Julie Ebenstein, policy and advocacy counsel for the ACLU of Florida; Diana Kasdan, counsel for the Brennan Center of Justice’s Democracy Program; and Uzoma Nkwonta, staff attorney for the Advancement Project discussed the many ongoing cases in Florida and how they will impact upcoming elections. This is the final part of a lecture series that will examine voter suppression laws in three states across the country.
  • Friday, September 21, 2012 | 1:00-2:00pm ET
  • Recording

 

National Call-in: Voter Suppression Laws in Ohio

  • National LGBT Bar Association is hosting a national call-in that will discuss the voter suppression laws in Ohio. Last year, Ohio shortened the early-voting period from 35 days to 17 days and eliminated early voting three days before an election. Minority and low-income voters are most affected as they often choose to vote early because their jobs do not allow them to take time off to vote. Also, transportation might not be stable or reliable enough to allow them to vote on Election Day. Jennifer Brunner, former Ohio Secretary of State; Susan Becker, board president of the Ohio ACLU; and Lawrence Norden, deputy director of the Brennan Center for Justice’s Democracy Program discussed these laws and how they will impact the upcoming election. This is part of a lecture series that will examine voter suppression laws in three states across the country.
  • Wednesday, September 19, 2012 | 11:00-12:00pm ET
  • Recording

 

National Call-in: Voter ID Law in Pennsylvania

  • National LGBT Bar Association is hosting a national call-in that will discuss the recent enactment of strict voter ID laws in Pennsylvania. Transgender individuals who may not have an ID that accurately reflects their gender or appearance, and low-income and elderly voters without access to updated forms of identification are most affected by these laws. David Rosenblum, director of legal services for the Mazzoni Center; Larry Felzer, director of development and finance for SeniorLAW Center; and Witold Walkczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania discussed the new voter ID law and its ramifications. This is part of a lecture series that will examine voter suppression laws in three states across the country.
  • Tuesday, September 11, 2012 | 2:30-3:30pm ET
  • Recording

 

National Call-in: A Day in the Life of a JAG Officer

  • It was not even a year ago that the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT)” law was officially ended. Since then, openly lesbian, gay and bisexual service members no longer have to worry about being discharged for who they are. Military recruiters Captain Laura DeSio, Lieutenant Colonel Mary Card-Mina and Lieutenant Tashinda Richardson, all of whom have extensive experience speaking with the National Association of Law Placement, will explain the opportunities for lesbian, gay and bisexual service members and a day in the life of a JAG officer.
  • Tuesday, July 10, 2012 | 3:00-4:00pm EST
  • Recording

 

National Call-in: Updates on Recent Challenges to DOMA

  • On May 31, 2012, the First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. This is just the latest victory against the 1996 law forbidding the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages.  Mary Bonauto, Civil Rights Project Director for GLAD, Maura Healey, chief attorney for the Civil Rights Division at the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, and Bill Eskridge, John A. Garver Professor of Jurisprudence at Yale Law School, will discuss the First Circuit Court’s decision and the future of the case.
  • Monday, June 18, 2012 | 12:00-1:00pm EST
  • Recording

 

National Call-in: Recent EEOC Ruling

  • In co-sponsorship with the National Employment Lawyers Association and Seyfarth Shaw LLP, the National LGBT Bar Association is hosting a national call-in to discuss the recent decision from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in the case of Macy v. Holder. The EEOC ruled that transgender individuals are included under Title VII, which protects employees and applicants from being discriminated against based on sex. The landmark ruling has ensured that under federal law, transgender individuals now have a legal recourse to file formal complaints against employers on the basis of sex discrimination. The magnitude of the EEOC’s decision cannot be overstated – LGBT individuals now have federal support and resources to fight for equality within the workplace. Join us as experts, including Chai Feldblum, commissioner of the EEOC, discuss the major impact this decision will have on the LGBT community. Other speakers include Laura Maechtlen, partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP; Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Ilona Turner, legal director for the Transgender Law Center.
  • Tuesday, June 5, 2012 | 3:00-4:00pm EST
  • Recording

 

LGBT Issues and the Muslim Community 

  • Muslim and LGBT communities are often portrayed as holding competing and incompatible worldviews, distinct and non‐overlapping cultural identities and mutually exclusive political values and goals. But what is the reality in North America? Does this narrative of irreconcilable conflict depict the day‐to‐day reality of these communities? To what extent is this narrative used to obscure and deny the existence of shared worldviews, overlapping identities and common political goals? And does this narrative really serve Muslim LGBT communities in North America or does it divide and conquer oppressed communities and help maintain the status quo? Join us for a discussion of these questions and more. Speakers include El-Farouk Khaki, Canadian lawyer and human rights activist and Khurshid Khoja, general counsel for Emerald Growers Association.
  • Monday, April 23, 2012 | 3:00‐3:30pm EST
  • Recording

 

Transgender Advocacy and Medical Frameworks

  • The National LGBT Bar Association would like to invite you to a call‐in with two of our nation’s leading experts on transgender rights and strategy talk about the connections between transgender advocacy and medical frameworks for understanding transgender identities and transsexualism. The subject of this discussion is even more pressing in light of the American Psychiatric Association’s forthcoming revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) which classifies many transgender people as having a mental health condition. Should attorneys and transgender clients pursue disability claims? What are the implications for arguing that gender transition‐related care is medically necessary? Come join us for a fascinating hour‐long discussion to hear answers to these and other burning legal questions you may have on related topics. Speakers include Dru Levasseur, Transgender Rights Attorney for Lamda Legal and Jennifer Levi, director of GLAD’s Transgender Rights Project.
  • Wednesday, April 18, 2012 | 4:00‐5:00pm EST
  • Recording
  • Materials:

 

Recent Cases Challenging the Defense of Marriage Act

  • The National LGBT Bar Association would like to invite you to a national call in that will discuss the recent Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) challenge. Mary Bonauto, Civil Rights Project Director for GLAD, Maura Healey and Bill Eskridge, John A. Garver Professor of Jurisprudence at Yale Law School, will discuss the DOMA case in Boston that was recently was heard by the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals, referred to as Gill v. Office of Personnel Management. The current case is a consolidation of three previous cases. The first involves U.S. Postal Worker Nancy Gill and her wife, Marcelle Letourneau, who have been denied federal health benefits that all other married couples receive. The second, filed by the Massachusetts Attorney General, also challenges section 3 of DOMA, which defines marriage as “a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.” Gill v. Office of Personnel Management will be the first DOMA challenge to go before the U.S. Appeals Court and could possibly reach the Supreme Court next year.
  • Friday, April 13, 2012 | 12:00—1:00pm EST
  • Recording

 

Legal Challenges Facing the Intersex Community 

  • The intersex community is considering a number of legal challenges to current harmful practices.  During this call-in, Anne Tamar-Mattis, director of Advocates for Informed Choice, and Professor Julie Greenberg will discuss (1) current harmful medical practices, including unconsented to cosmetic genital surgeries and involuntary sterilizations, (2) proposed changes to current rules regulating athletic competition participation, and (3) other discriminatory practices affecting the intersex community.  They will advise attorneys working with the LGBT community about spotting these issues and developing effective legal strategies, including sex and disability discrimination arguments, to mount successful challenges.  For those interested in background information about intersexuality, see the websites for Advocates for Informed Choice (aiclegal.org) and the Intersex Society of North America (http://isna.org/).
  • Thursday, April 5, 2012 | 3:00 – 4:00pm EST
  • Recording

 

End of Life Planning for the LGBT Community

  • Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clients consult lawyers to protect their families at time of crisis, particularly end of life decisions. Yet, horror stories abound. Listen to three experienced attorneys discuss how to write documents that can withstand attack and what advice to give clients when they are confronted with hostility when trying to enforce their rights. Speakers include William S. Singer, partner at Singer & Fedun, LLC, Debra E. Guston, partner at Guston & Guston, LLP,  Nancy J. Knauer, I. Herman Stern Professor at Temple University and Carrington Mead.
  • Wednesday, March 7, 2012 | 5:00-6:00pm EST
  • Recording

 

LGBT Tax Law

  • For the LGBT community, filing your annual taxes can be extremely stressful and full of questions. This year, the National LGBT Bar Association hosted two national call-ins to help answer questions LGBT individuals and families face when trying to file their taxes. Panelists included leading experts in LGBT tax law. Speakers include Kate Fletcher, Pat Cain, Deb Kinney, Deborah Wald and Paul Thorndal.
  • Wednesday, January 25, 2012 | 3:00-4:00pm EST and Wednesday, February 8, 2012 | 3:00-4:00pm EST
  • Recording: Part 1
  • Recording: Part 2

2011

California Court Rules Proponents of Prop 8 Have Standing

  • This 30-minute call addressed the future of Proposition 8 and what steps are needed to finalize decisions for either party. Speakers on the call included Kate Kendell, Executive Director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights; David Codell, co-counsel in the California In re Marriage Cases; and, Tobias Barrington Wolff, Professor of Law at the University of  Pennsylvania Law School.
  • Monday, November 21, 2011 | 30 minutes
  • Recording

Unsafe Schools: Bullying/Harassment

  • This call–in partnership with the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network–invited legal professionals to speak about their experience on litigating cases involving LGBT youth that have been heavily harassed and bullyed in schools. Speakers also provided briefs used for litigation purposes for listeners to review and become better educated on the delicacy of these types of cases. Please use the links below to download both the recording as well as the briefs. Speakers include Alison Gill, Public Policy Manager at GLSEN, Samuel Wolfe, Staff Attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center, Paula Rosenstein, partner at Rosenstein, Wilson & Dean, Joni Thome, attorney at Halunen & Associates, and John Elliott Eichhorst, Deputy Attorney at the USDA Office of the General Counsel, Pacific Region.
  • Wednesday, May 18, 2011 | 1 Hour
  • Recording
  • Briefs

Current Developments in the Implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act: Views from Capitol Hill and the SEC

  • This live webinar will present an overview of current developments in the implementation of the recently passed Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The Dodd-Frank Act made sweeping changes in the regulation of financial products and services, including banking, securities, and commodities law, some of which are now targeted for repeal by the new 112th Congress. At the same time, regulators are facing a July 21, 2011, deadline for implementing key mandates of the legislation.In the midst of these developments, this webinar will feature commentary from one of the Act’s primary authors, Congressman Barney Frank, Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee. Of particular interest to in-house and outside counsel to public companies, current and former SEC and FINRA staffers will discuss recent developments in the implementation of Dodd-Frank. Speakers include John Ramsey, Deputy Director, SEC Division of Trading and Markets; Brian V. Breheny, Corporate Partner, Skadden Arps, and former Deputy Director, SEC Division of Corporation Finance; Brian M. Castro, Chairman and founding member of the National LGBT Bar Association’s Financial Regulation & Reform Working Group, and former Senior Counsel, FINRA Department of Enforcement.
  • Tuesday, April 26, 2011 | 1 hour, 30 minutes
  • Recording

LGBT Tax Law Issues

  • The restrictions imposed by the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) have left the marital status of many same-sex couples in a state of confusion when it comes to life and financial planning. As the deadline for filing federal tax returns draws near, significant questions and disarray regarding tax filing requirements keep circulating on the list serve. The National LGBT Bar Association is pleased to host a national call-in that focuses on issues of tax law. The panelists will address significant questions and confusion regarding DOMA and tax filing status, Registered Domestic Partnership status, community property rules, and the lack of clarity and guidance as relates to tax payers in the LGBT community. Speakers include Patricia Cain, Inez Mabie, Distinguished Professor of Law at Santa Clara Law and Katie D. Fletcher, past president of the National LGBT Bar Association.
  •  Tuesday, April 12, 2011 | 1 Hour
  • Recording

DOMA, the Department of Justice, and Congress: A Conversation About the Road Ahead

  • In a February 23, 2011 letter to House Speaker John Boehner, Attorney General Eric Holder announced the Obama Administration’s position that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional and would no longer be defended in court by the federal government. Subsequently, Speaker Boehner announced his intent to have the House of Representatives step in to defend DOMA in court. Many questions remain. What exactly did the letter from Attorney General Holder mean?  How is that letter squared with the general presumption that the federal government will defend laws that remain on the books?  How does the letter fit within the context of historic examples of exceptions to the duty to defend? What is the difference between the federal government’s duty to defend laws and its duty to enforce laws while litigation is pending? What is the process going forward for the various pending cases? What are the ramifications of the government’s views on heightened scrutiny for classifications involving sexual orientation? Two legal scholars with extensive federal government experience will discuss these and other issues, along with answering audience questions, on a national conference call. Speakers include Nan Hunter, /professor of Law and Associate Dean of Graduate Programs at Georgetown Law, and Peter Shane, professor at Moritz  College of Law at Ohio State University.
  • Monday, March 28, 2011 | 1 Hour
  • Recording

LGBT Immigration & Asylum Seekers

  • For decades, immigrants have requested asylum by the United States from their home countries due to political strife, economic hardship, or social injustice. With regards to LGBT individuals in many communities abroad it is mortally dangerous to be open with their lifestyle therefore political asylum is critical. Speakers include Justin Connor, whose partner recently won his own asylum case, Victoria Neilson, Legal Director at Immigration Equality, Scott Titshaw, professor at Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law, and Chad Ellsworth.
  • Wednesday, March 16, 2011 | 1 Hour
  • Recording

The Future of DOMA

  • The Defense of Marriage Act was passed in 1996 during the Clinton Administration. Under this law, states were not required to recognize same-sex marriage. Also, in Section 3 of the act, a marriage would be federally defined as a union between a man and a woman. Since the act was signed into law, it has been under scrutiny by the LGBT community. Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) has worked strongly against DOMA since its inception, and in 2009 filed a Federal Court lawsuit against the constitutionality of the act under the equal protection clause. Speaker is Kate Kendell, Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
  • Thursday, February 24, 2011 | 30 Minutes
  • Recording

What Hath the North Carolina Supreme Court Wrought?

  • In a recent decision, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples cannot jointly adopt.  By its ruling, the court has seriously placed in jeopardy all previously granted second parent adoptions.  What are the ramifications of this decision for same-sex families in North Carolina?  What is the status of the law in other jurisdictions?  What can lawyers do to stop a similar decision in their own states?  What legal theories, apart from adoption, can attorneys use to protect same-sex families? Speakers include Joyce Kauffman, former co-chair of the Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association, Shannon Minter, Legal Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Nancy D. Polikoff, Professor of Law at American University Washington College of Law and the author of Beyond (Straight and Gay) Marriage: Valuing All Families Under the Law, Abby Rubenfeld, who has sat on the board of directors for the ACLU of Tennessee, the Human Rights Campaign and the Legal Director of Lamda Legal, William S. Singer, partner at Singer & Fedun, LLC,  Christine Sun, Senior Counsel for the ACLU’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Project. and Sharon A. Thompson, founder of the North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Attorneys.
  • Thursday, February 3, 2011 | 1 Hour
  • Recording

2010

Cutting Edge Issues in LGBT Adoption and Parentage

  • Due to advanced reproductive technologies, families are springing into existence in ways the U.S. legal system never envisioned. LGBT families are a part of this cresting wave in American jurisprudence. What makes a parent — biology or consent? What makes a family — form or function? From birth certificates to custody, from surrogacy to adoption bans, our distinguished panel of experts will discuss the cutting edge legal, legislative, and practical issues involving our nation’s LGBT families. Speakers include Joyce Kauffman, former co-chair of the Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association and former chair of MLGBA’s Family Law Section, Courtney Joslin, Acting Professor at UC Davis School of Law, Elizabeth F. Schwartz, AV Rated attorney, whose practice emphasizes representation of the LGBT community in family formation, William S. Singer, partner in Singer & Fedun, LLC,  Deborah H. Wald, founder and senior partner at the Wald Law Group and Michele Zavos, principal in the Zavos Juncker Law Group, PLLC.
  • Thursday, December 16, 2010 | 6:00-7:00pm EST
  • Recording

Post-Election National Conference Call

  • From the fate of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” to anti-bullying legislation efforts and the makeup of the federal judiciary, the results of Tuesday’s midterm elections are certain to have a major impact on the lives of LGBT Americans and their families over the next several years. What new challenges and opportunities will the new landscape of Capitol Hill, state legislatures, and court houses provide for the LGBT equality movement? Speakers include Shannon Minter, Legal Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Tobias Barrington Wolff, Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania.
  • Thursday, November 4, 2010 | 5:00-5:30pm EST
  • Recording

Cyberbullying of LGBT Students

  • In the wake of the recent tragic string of teen suicides linked to anti-LGBT bullying, there is an intense scrutiny of the role the internet and online social networking played in these deaths. As parents, school administrators, and politicians are left to wonder what can be done to curb peer-to-peer harassment of LGBT-identified and gender nonconforming students, the mental health of hundreds of thousands of LGBT youth across the country continues to be severely undermined by a bullying campaigns that extend far beyond the reach of the classroom. Speakers include Christian Dowell, Legal Director of Global Brand Protection at Yahoo! Inc., Alison Gill, Public Policy Associate with the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), and Warren J. Blumenfeld, Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Iowa State University.
  • Wednesday, October 20, 2010 | 1 Hour
  • Recording

DOMA, DADT, and the Duty to Defend: A Conversation

  • Many in the progressive community have noted the awkward situation faced by the federal government in litigation such as Log Cabin Republicans v. the United States (a constitutional challenge to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”) and Gill v. Office of Personnel Management (a constitutional challenge to Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act). In each case, the federal government has been called to defend (and has defended) in federal court a law for which President Obama has publicly expressed his disapproval. These federal court suits can serve as conversational vehicles to explore larger questions about the federal government’s duty to defend laws that remain on the books. Speakers include Walter E. Dellinger III, former U.S. Solicitor General, Nan Hunter, Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, and Neil Kinkopf, Professor of Law at Georgia State University College of Law. Co-sponsored with the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy.
  • Monday, October 18, 2010 | 2 Hours
  • Recording

Witt v. U.S. Dept. of the Air Force Call

  • In 2004, just short of retirement, Major Margaret Witt was suspended after her commanders learned she was in a relationship with a civilian woman. The ACLU of Washington sued the U.S. Department of the Air Force, claiming that the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and its application to Witt, violated her rights of liberty and equal protection. In 2006, Judge Leighton rejected these claims but was overruled by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2008. The Court of Appeals reinstated the lawsuit, holding that substantive due process demanded a heightened level of scrutiny. While the decision left in place the military’s ban, the court found that before separating a servicemember from his or her post, the military must prove that the individual’s conduct actually hurt morale or jeopardized another government interest. Speakers include Jim Lobsenz, Principal in the Seattle office of Carney Badley Spellman, P.S., and Diane H. Mazur, Professor of Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
  • Monday, September 27, 2010 | 12:30-1:00pm EST
  • Recording

Perry v. Schwarzenegger Victory Call

  • The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has struck down California’s Proposition 8 as unconstitutional. In 2008, “Prop. 8” amended the California State Constitution to prohibit the state from legally recognizing same-sex marriages performed on or after November 5, 2008. In today’s decision, Judge Vaughn Walker declared Proposition 8 unconstitutional under both the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses. Tomorrow, August 5th, the National LGBT Bar Association is hosting a national call-in to discuss the victory, including analysis of the decision and the probable appeal. The call will be led by Kate Kendell (Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights) and Professor William N. Eskridge, Jr. (John A. Garver Professor of Jurisprudence at Yale Law School).
  • Thursday, August 5, 2010 | 3:00-3:30pm EST
  • Recording

Perry v. Schwarzenegger Update Call

  • In 2008, California voters approved Proposition 8, redefining marriage to be between one man and one woman. Two couples subsequently filed suit claiming it violated their right to be married. Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights and William Eskridge, John A. Garver Professor of Jurisprudence at Yale Law School, speak on what has happened in the case and what can be expected in the closing arguments.
  • Monday, February 1, 2010 | 30 Minutes
  • Recording

Other Recordings:

Federal Courts, the Nine Supremes, and LGBT Equality

Priorities for the LGBT Agenda in the New Administration

Relationship Recognition Through a Federal Lens

Welcome & Keynote: Harry Britt, Roberta Achtenberg

Gay / Lesbian Free Speech & Rights: William Weinberger, John Heilman & Bill Rubenstein

Contested Probate of Estates: K. Triantafillou, Virginia Palmer & Joseph Schuman

Public Benefits – AIDS/ARC: Gary Wood & Peter Young

Advising Gay & Lesbian Businesses: Harry Hawkins, Diane Abbitt & Jane Dolkart

Law Theory & Employment Discrimination: E. Reeves, A. Leonard, R. Rivera & L. Walker

Mediation / Arbitration: Theresa Friend, Mary Forst & Elizabeth Salen

Constitutional Theories for Gay / Lesbian Rights: Ed Reeves, Gary Dunlap & Charles Hinkle

Artificial Insemination & Surrogacy: K. Triantafillou, Cheri Piles & Heather Wishilk

Stress Management for AIDS/ARC Professionals: Gary Wood & Dr. Joseph Brewer

Advising Gay / Lesbian Nonprofit Corporations: Jean Rietschel, Jane Dolkart & Elizabeth Sale

Security Clearances: Matt Coles, Richard Gayer & Frank Kameny

Coalition Building / Civil Rights: H. Wishnik, B. Weinberg, K. Cathcart &l S. McGreivy

Gay / Lesbian Families with Children: C. Rizzo, N. Polikoff, M. Rushford & R. Achtenberg

Working in an Non-Gay Legal Environment: Harry Hawkins, Mark Dupont & John O’Keefe

Policy Prohibiting Sex Orientation Discrimination: Ed Reeves, Susan Silber & H. Frankli

Defending Lewd Conduct Cases: Jay Kohorn, Tom Horn & Jean Rietschel

Military Law for Gays & Lesbians: Matt Coles, Joseph Schuman, David Webber & Bridget Wilson

Gay / Lesbian Rights and the Media: Ed Reeves, Gwenn Criag, Elain Ellison, and Urvashi Vaid

HIV Confidentiality: Gary Wood, Denise McWilliams & Alice Philipson

Gay & Lesbian Bar Association: Ron Albers, Mark Dupont & Donna Hitchens

Laws Prohibiting Sex Orientation Discrimination: Matt Coles, Nan Hunter & James Mercer

Legal Response to Anti-Gay: R. Shell, Barbara Dickey, Marie Inyang & Ellen Shapiro



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