News and Events

Justice Speaks: LGBTQ Youth in the Age of Claimed Acceptance and Bullying

As a follow-up to last semester’s Same-sex Marriage in the Age of DOMA, the February Justice Speaks lunch focus on LGBTQ youth issues. LGBTQ youth issues continue to be a major social topic affecting America today. While parts of the country have become more accepting, LGBTQ youth continue to face bullying and harassment, rejection, and homelessness. The Justice Action Center welcomes Susan Sommer of Lambda Legal, Matthew Faiella of the United States Department of Education, Ronald Scott of the United States Department of Education, and NYLS Professor Art Leonard as they discuss the current status of LGBTQ youth in America. The event is free and open to the public, and a light lunch will be provided. The Justice Speaks lunch runs from 12:50 to 1:50 on Tuesday, February 7, in room W220. Arrive early to get your lunch and grab a seat. We hope to see you there! For more information, click here.

Registration Now Available for Our Spring Symposium, Ripples of Injustice: The Impact of Criminal Justice Policies on Minority Communities

The Justice Action Center's Racial Justice Project and the Racial Justice Project of the American Civil Liberties Union are pleased to co-sponsor a one-day conference in New York City for advocates, organizers, litigators, researchers, and individuals to explore the impact of criminal justice policies and practices on minority communities. The conference will take place on Friday, April 27, 2012, at New York Law School. The conference will explore the long-term impact of criminal justice policies on the home communities. For more information, including registration, a complete schedule of events, and continuing legal education information, please visit the conference website: www.nyls.edu/Symposium2012.

11th Circuit Rules that Termination of Transgender Employee for Gender Non-Conformity Violates the Equal Protection Clause

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled on December 6 that a government agent violates the Equal Protection Clause's prohibition of sex-based discrimination when firing a transgender or transsexual employee because of his or her gender non-conformity. In reaching this decision, the court, for lack of an appropriate legal term, emphatically demonstrated that it "gets it" when it comes to applying constitutional protections to the transgender community. Click here to read more about this case and other issues affecting the LGBT community in this month's publication of Lesbian/Gay Law Notes.

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