News and Events

Racial Justice Project Launches Stand-Alone Blog

The Racial Justice Project is pleased to announce the launch of its blog, Race to Justice, at www.racialjusticeproject.com. Race to Justice is a forum for discussion on issues of race, justice, and equality. While many have proclaimed that we are now living in a “post-racial” society, racism is alive and well. Yet our nation remains unable to have meaningful conversations about race and injustice.

The faculty and students involved in the Racial Justice Project hope that the blog will help increase awareness of racism and structural racial inequality that continue to plague America, and provide commentary on current events that impact racial equality. The blog will also be a place to learn about recent court decisions that involve issues of racial justice and upcoming events.

We hope you will visit the blog often. If you have questions about Race to Justice or the work of the Racial Justice Project, please contact us at jac@nyls.edu.

EEOC: Title VII Covers Gender Identity Discrimination

In a sharp sharp reversal of its prior rulings, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") ruled on April 20 that a “complaint of discrimination based on gender identity, change of sex, and/or transgender status is cognizable under Title VII.” Overturning its own prior rulings from 1984, 1994, and 1996, which had taken a narrow view of the concept of “discrimination because of sex” under the statute, the Commission unanimously concluded in Macy v. Holder that subsequent developments—especially significant federal circuit and district court decisions—have led to a new understanding of the law. The EEOC is the federal agency created by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with principal authority for interpreting and applying Title VII, the federal statute that bans, among other things, sex discrimination in employment. Click here to read more about this case and other issues affecting the LGBT community in this edition of Lesbian/Gay Law Notes.

A new issue of Lesbian/Gay Law Notes is published each month. Archival editions are available on the Justice Action Center website approximately one month following initial publication. You can sign up to receive email notification of these newly available archive issues (click here and then scroll to the bottom of the page) or you can access the archive directly by clicking the "Publications" tab on the left side bar. 

Having Trouble Finding the Center?

Are you a new affiliate of the Center, and still having trouble finding your way around the 9th floor? You can find the Student Center in room S929, on the 9th floor of the 40 Worth building. You will also find the Center staff and most of the faculty on the 9th floor as well, including the Center Director, Professor Richard Marsico, in room S923, and the Center Administrator, Alissa Kane, in room S928. Professor Marsico can also be reached by email (richard.marsico@nyls.edu) or by phone (212-431-2180). Alissa is available by email (alissa.kane@nyls.edu) or phone (212-431-2327). The student center is available as a quiet study space for all affiliates, including new 1L affiliates, during the final exam period.