General Attendance Sessions
Friday, August 27, 2010 | 9:00am - 10:30am
Real Change: LGBT Issues and the Administration
Legal advocates with a keen eye on the executive branch see meaningful regulatory change within the Administration, notwithstanding concerns over the pace of change presented by certain LGBT activists and bloggers. How will the progress that has been made affect the legal profession and the LGBT community? HUD is undertaking the federal government's first study on anti-gay discrimination in housing; HHS has directed federal grantees to allow hospital visitation rights for same sex couples and granted $900k to create the first and only national resource center on LGBT aging; the Justice Department has declared that Violence Against Women Act applies to same-sex couples; the Office of Personnel Management has made available certain benefits to the same sex partners of federal employees; and the Labor Department has interpreted the Family and Medical Leave Act to allow a caregiver to take leave to care for a child irrespective of their biological or legal relationship. The HIV travel ban has been lifted and federal law now prohibits hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, but what do these legislative accomplishments mean for our community? What are the prospects for other LGBT legislative priorities? What else does the LGBT community want from the Administration?
Moderator: David Lat
Speakers: Matt Nosanchuk, Paul Smith, Courtney Joslin, Elaine Kaplan, Jon Davidson, Tobias Barrington Wolff
CLE Materials: Download
Saturday, August 28, 2010 | 9:00am - 10:30am
Relationship Recognition: Ends, Means, and the Path Ahead
This panel will examine selected developments in the struggle for marriage equality for same-sex couples. Top scholars, litigators and legal strategists will discuss state legislation, such as that which was passed in a number of Northeastern states (including Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia), Maine’s subsequent repeal initiative and Proposition 8 in California, as well as the DOMA repeal bill pending in Congress and President Obama’s memorandum on hospital visitation. Further, we shall examine state court cases (such as Varnum v. Brien in Iowa), and federal court cases, such as pending challenges to DOMA (Gill v. OPM and Commonwealth v. DHHS) and Proposition 8 (Perry v. Schwarzenegger). This panel will allow attendees the chance to explore arguments about ideal venues for change, considering the courts, the legislatures, executive branch action, and the frequent interplay among them.
Moderator: Praveen Fernandes
Speakers: Therese Stewart, William Eskridge, Jenny Pizer, Shannon Minter, Tobias Barrington Wolff
CLE Materials: Download
Saturday, August 28, 2010 | 3:15pm - 4:45pm
Straight Allies Speak Out: Will Diversity in the Profession be the Biggest Casualty of the Recession?
For the first time in its history of monitoring diversity in the profession, the American Lawyer reports that diversity dropped in 2009. All legal professionals interested in diversity, and especially students must be aware of this alarming statistic. Please join us for a candid discussion on how the business of law has changed due to the recession. After building that foundation, panelists will explore how that change has affected the business case for diversity at large firms and who the presumed trickledown effect affects medium sized firms across the nation.
Moderator: Lisa Damon
Speakers: Walter Sutton, Tina Matsuoka, Ted Furman, Zuraya Tapia, Veta Richardson, Frederick J. Krebs, J. Robert Carr
CLE Materials: Download