Southwestern Law School recently sent five law students and two professors to the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association (NLGLA) Lavender Law Conference in San Francisco. Attorneys, law students, and advocates from around the United States gathered for the 20th anniversary of this annual even which took place Sept. 3-7 at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero.

The event’s career fair drew over 100 law firms, public interest, and government recruiters from around the country, including Los Angeles area firms O’Melveny and Myers and Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker. Additionally, there were a variety of networking dinners, luncheon’s and cocktail parties that allowed attendees a chance to meet and network.

There were also a variety of educational workshops which included Making Law Schools a Welcoming Place for LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgendered) Students, lead by Southwestern Professor Kelly Strader. One subject discussed was how to reach the many LGBT students who, even today, are reluctant to be identified as gay. Many students polled are afraid that involvement in a gay organization will adversely affect their chances of employment and they “don’t want to be identified as gay on their resumes” said Strader.

Students have also reported hearing snickering and homophobic comments in courses where LGBT cases come up, such as criminal and constitutional law. Obviously, this is not helpful to students who are still deciding whether or not to come out of the closet, said the panel.

Southwestern Professor Gowri Ramachandran also participated in a discussion panel on legal scholarships for LGBT students. Several speakers at the conference discussed how LGBT students are often left out of the “Diversity” umbrella. Scholarships are one way to make certain that gay students are included, said several panelists and students.

One highlight of the conference was the awarding of the NLGLA’s highest honor, the Dan Bradley Award, to Shannon Minter, the Legal Director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Therese Stewart, the Chief Deputy City Attorney for San Francisco.

Shannon served as the lead litigator in the appellate arguments for gay marriage, and Therese argued the case for the City of San Francisco and directed strategy for the lawsuit. Their efforts were integral to the recent California Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage which is now threatened by Proposition 8.

Another presentation was given by Jody Huckaby, Director of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbian and Gays (PFLAG) and Calpernia Addams, a transgendered activist and actress. The two addressed several issues, including violence against transgendered people and the LGBT community in general. In 1999 Addams’s boyfriend, Army Private Barry Winchell, was beaten to death in his barracks by a fellow soldier angered about his relationship with Addam’s. The incident was depicted in the Showtime film “Soldier Girl.” Prior to transitioning to female, Addam’s herself was a decorated Gulf War veteran. “Violence against people who cross gender lines, whether they are straight, gay or transgendered continues” and actually appears to be increasing said Addams.

“LGBT people are not responsible for violence done to them” said Huckaby of PFLAG when asked if LGBT people can ever be partly responsible for violence done to them. This question was raised by both mainstream and gay media after the murder of 15 year old openly gay teen Lawrence King in Oxnard, CA. King allegedly responded to taunting by aggressively questioning his tormentors about their sexuality. One teen, 14 year old Brandon McInerney, responded by shooting King the head. “If a male student murdered a female student after a similar incident you would not have people arguing that she deserved to be killed” said Huckaby. “When anyone displays traits that are not inline with their prescribed gender, non-gay people often respond violently.” Added Addams.

Huckaby did agree that school administrators and teachers need to intervene and be proactive in preventing violence and bullying against all students. “Schools need to seek out organizations” such as PFLAG if they are unsure how to handle incidents involving LGBT students.

Judi O’Kelly, an attendee from Seattle, and the Director of Law/Global Development at LAMBDA, remarked on how valuable the conference was for LGBT law students. “Lavender law lets [LGBT] students know that there is support and opportunity out there for them.”

The conferences ended with a dinner and awards presentation sponsored by the International Law Firm Sullivan and Cromwell LLP.

Lavender Law 2009 will be held in New York City.

Written by Jim Allaire, 3L