LCR’s Legal Warriors at Lav Law

Lawyers for Civil Rights at the 2022 Lavender Law Conference 

LCR’s legal warriors and our pro bono partners will be presenting on a wide range of cutting-edge civil rights and intersectional issues at the upcoming Lavender Law Conference hosted by the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association in Los Angeles. This is where you can find us during the conference:

July 27, 2022

Fostering LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurship – Sponsored by Nationwide
Concurrent Session A: July 27, 2022 | 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Location: Floor M2, Studio C
As the economy continues to transform in response to the pandemic, entrepreneurship is emerging as an important driver of growth and innovation. This is particularly true for historically marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ communities, which continue to experience vulnerability surrounding our rights in the workplace. As many LGBTQ+ people continue to experience discrimination at work and pandemic hardship, entrepreneurship provides an opportunity to create safe and welcoming spaces. This panel will explore the legal issues that diverse and intersectional populations face in exploring entrepreneurship. We will also discuss practical legal solutions, including the unique role that the private bar can play through pro bono support to help launch small businesses. The panel will feature attorneys across a wide-range of practice areas and industries who are working with existing and inspiring small business owners to close the wealth and opportunity gap. We will pay special attention to the legal and business needs of LGBTQ+ people of color, immigrants, and formerly incarcerated people.

Speakers: Iván Espinoza-Madrigal (Moderator) (Lawyers for Civil Rights); Alfred Fraijo, Jr. (Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP); Priya Lane (Lawyers for Civil Rights, BizGrow Director); Frank Lindh (Stanford Law School); Carla Reeves (Goulston & Storrs)

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Legal Empowerment Strategies to Expand Military Opportunities for People Living with HIV
Concurrent Session B: July 27, 2022 | 10:45 am – 12:15 pm
Location: Floor M2, Studio B
Despite momentous medical advancements in the treatment of HIV, outdated and illogical military policies still prohibit people living with HIV from enlisting in the military, serving as a commissioned officer, and deploying. These policies serve only to further perpetuate harmful HIV stigma, particularly targeting LGBTQ communities and communities of color, and to erase a professional career opportunity that leads to lifelong educational and employment advancement for communities that suffer from less access than their white peers. This panel will be comprised of diverse attorneys from legal organizations and law firms with professional expertise in complex federal litigation, including HIV discrimination cases. The panel will address legal and extralegal challenges to abolishing discriminatory military policies. We will discuss the power of legal and medical advocacy in this arena and the efforts to enhance community empowerment centered on the richness of identity. The workshop will also discuss recent legal cases and examine the public pressure points that support policy advocacy around this issue. 

Speakers: Iván Espinoza-Madrigal (Moderator) (Lawyers for Civil Rights); Sasha Buchert (Lambda Legal); Sophia Hall (Lawyers for Civil Rights); Peter Perkowski (Perkowski Legal PC); Christopher Queenin (Nixon Peabody)

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July 28, 2022

What a Latinx Attorney Looks Like
Concurrent Session F: July 28, 2022 | 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Location: Floor 3, Los Feliz
The LGBTQ+ Community is diverse in our identities, our experiences, and beliefs. As we think about legal issues that impact our communities, it is important to discuss how few attorneys are Latinx or LGBTQ – what does this mean for our profession? And the legal system? As Latino/Latina/Latinx attorneys we represent a rich and unique experience as we advocate for the rights of our multiple communities. Latinx LGBTQ people face disproportionate rates of discrimination, racism, and xenophobia. As advocates, we are fighting for our communities in a field that has often silenced or left out our stories and our expertise. This panel will discuss legal issues impacting our communities including civil rights, criminalization, immigration, and family law. In addition to substantive legal issues, we will discuss our experiences as academics, direct service providers, impact litigators, and leaders, our practices, and ways in which allies could help Latinx LGBTQ attorneys. We will also discuss what the broader, often white-led, movement must do to address the specific needs that impact our communities.

Speakers: Richard Saenz (Moderator) (Lambda Legal); Iván Espinoza-Madrigal (Lawyers for Civil Rights); Anya Marino (Harvard Law School LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic); Josefina Valdez (JL Valdez Law); Ezra Young (Law Office of Ezra Young)

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July 29, 2022

Lawyering En Español
July 29, 2022 | 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Location: Floor 3, Trousdale Estates
All Spanish-speaking attorneys and attorneys serving Spanish-speaking clients are welcome for this collaborative session.  Not for CLE credit. 

Speakers: Iván Espinoza-Madrigal (Moderator) (Lawyers for Civil Rights)

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Employment Law Institute
July 29, 2022 
The Employment Law Institute is a space for the leading legal minds involved with labor and employment law, as it pertains to the LGBTQ+ community, to share ideas and network. Participants will share their collective wisdom and discuss cutting-edge legal strategies. To create an environment that encourages the free flow of information, registration is limited. The meeting will be closed and the proceedings will not be recorded.

Speakers: Sophia Hall (Lawyers for Civil Rights).

More information about the conference is available here: https://lgbtqbar.org/annual/program/2022-complete-program/