Why Pronouns Matter
On October 21, 2020, the National LGBT Bar is proud to join the celebration of International Pronouns Day. For the third year, participants all over the globe will once again acknowledge and celebrate the importance of respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns. Pronouns, by definition, are the words we use in place of someone’s […]
End the Blood Ban
In light of the COVID-19 crisis, the FDA recently reduced the deferral period for “male [blood] donors who would have been deferred for having sex with another man and female donors who would have been deferred for having sex with a man who had sex with another man” from 12 months to 3 months. Yet […]
Courage, Dignity, Strength, and Activism
At a White House Coronavirus Task Force press briefing on April 8, 2020, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, took a brief moment to honor the struggle of the LGBTQ+ community during the HIV epidemic. Fauci highlighted how marginalized communities are being disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. […]
Now Is The Time To Commit To Lasting Institutional Change
By M. Dru Levasseur, Deputy Program Officer of the National LGBT Bar As the COVID-19 pandemic rattles the world economy, several law firms have begun cutting support staff or vastly reducing their billable hours. These initial cuts may be a sign of what’s to come during a potential post-pandemic economic downturn and have far-reaching implications for […]
PRESS RELEASE: Lavender Law 365® expands nationwide to bring diversity, equity, and inclusion coaching to law firms and law schools across the country
For Immediate Release April 22, 2020 Contact: M. Dru Levasseur (202) 637-7661 // dru@lgbtbar.org Lavender Law 365® expands nationwide to bring diversity, equity, and inclusion coaching to law firms, law schools, and companies across the country. The expansion is a direct response to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs taking a hit from the COVID-19 Crisis. [...]
Inclusion in an Unprecedented Time
By M. Dru Levasseur, Deputy Program Officer of the National LGBT Bar We’re in an unprecedented time. The global health crisis caused by COVID-19 has led to a near shutdown of most social functioning: no in-office work, no in-store shopping, no gathering of friends, no public events. Many, many people are left vulnerable, losing work, social […]
The Powerful Role of Attorneys
By M. Dru Levasseur, Deputy Program Officer of the National LGBT Bar On February 1st, I had the honor of keynoting the 19th Annual Minnesota Lavender Bar Conference. It’s always a pleasure to be in the room with members of one of our 38 state and local LGBT Bar Affiliates to hear about the exciting work […]
Beyond Pronouns: Embracing the Full Gender Spectrum
By M. Dru Levasseur, Deputy Program Officer of the National LGBT Bar Last week I spoke to Law360 about “How BigLaw Is Starting To Embrace The Full Gender Spectrum.” It is truly significant that law firms are taking a visible stance to include transgender and nonbinary attorneys in the legal workplace, particularly with the current […]