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 […]