Across the United States, university and law school campuses host a variety of student organizations ranging from groups pursuing similar professional interests, to religious associations, to identity-based organizations such as LGBTQ+ student groups. These organizations play an important function in campus life. They are spaces where students can make friends, network, learn about new opportunities, […]

Last week, New Hampshire became the 18th state to ban the heinous LGBTQ+ “panic” defense – a legal strategy wherein defendants charged with violent crimes weaponize their victim’s real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity to bolster other defenses, such as insanity, provocation, or self-defense. When employed, the LGBTQ+ “panic” defense asks the court […]

The National LGBTQ+ Bar Association and Foundation strongly condemn the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, and reaffirms our strong support for the right to abortion. This decision overturning Roe and Casey is outrageous, and has already resulted in immediate and ongoing harm to people who need to access abortion. Moreover, […]

Dru Levasseur, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, is joined by Professor Christopher Czerwonka at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. They discuss:  – Challenges faced by law students and lawyers with physical disabilities – Mentorship in the legal profession – Self-advocacy and how to be an ally for others – […]

Featuring: Dru Levasseur, Deputy Program Officer; Taylor Carter-DiSanto, Syracuse University College of Law Class of 2024 Graduate and National LGBT Bar Fellow; Jeena Cho, Lawyer, Author, and Mindfulness Instructor, JC Law Group, PC; and Samantha Tenner, University of Wyoming College of Law 2L student; National LGBT Bar Law Student Congress Board Member; and LCSW, MFTC, […]

In the LGBT Bar’s first podcast and webinar, our Deputy Program Officer and lead for Lavender Law 365 LGBTQ+ inclusion consulting and coaching program Dru Levasseur interviews LSAC’s President and CEO, Kellye Testy, about what law students might want to know at this moment in the COVID-19 crisis, including: Where to go to get updates on developments Tips for […]

Washington D.C. Councilmembers David Grosso and Chairman Phil Mendelson have introduced two separate bills—the “Tony Hunter and Bella Evangelista Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2019” and “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2019,” respectively.  The legislation would prohibit legal defenses that “seek to partially or completely excuse crimes such as murder […]

By Hon. Cynthia D. Wright, Senior Judge Hon. Cynthia D. Wright, Senior Judge, is a case manager at JAMS. Judge Wright served for two decades on the bench in Fulton County Superior and State courts, including two successful terms as chief judge. Judge Wright heard thousands of civil cases involving civil rights, education, employment, business, […]

This month, Nevada became the fourth state to ban gay and trans ‘panic’ defenses in the United States. That is a significant victory in the ongoing fight for full LGBTQ+ legal equality – and yet many Americans still do not know what a gay or trans ‘panic’ defense is, much less how effective, pervasive, and […]