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Episodes
LGBTQ+ lawyers, policy experts, and activists discuss the latest legal and political news affecting the LGBTQ+ community both in the U.S. and abroad. Hosted by Shain Filcher, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar of NY, with regularly featured guest Prof. Emeritus Arthur S. Leonard of New York Law School.
Episodes
Thursday Aug 02, 2018
A Religious Litmus Test for Serving LGBTQ Youth at Risk?
Thursday Aug 02, 2018
Thursday Aug 02, 2018
This is a dangerous time for LGBTQ people, and children across the country are paying the price.
On this installment, we are going to be talking with Christina Wilson Remlin, lead counsel at Children’s Rights about anti-LGBTQ legislation that targets queer youth in out of home care by attempting to give service providers a license to discriminate against foster parents and others who don’t meet a religious litmus test.
These policies place the agencies ‘beliefs above the needs and best interests of children in care. They also discriminate against parents who are trying to provide a loving home.
We also talk with LeGaL's Legal Director Brett Figlewski about our LGBTQ Youth Clinic and the free legal services we provide.
Links:
Tuesday Jul 03, 2018
Kennedy steps down: It's all on the line!
Tuesday Jul 03, 2018
Tuesday Jul 03, 2018
On this episode of the LeGaL LGBT Podcast, we discuss Justice Kennedy's retirement, his LGBT rights legacy, and what's at stake for the future of civil rights claims.
We are joined by Professor Art Leonard of NY Law School. Art literlally knows everything about LGBT litigation, so you are not going to want to miss this.
Tuesday Jun 26, 2018
What's cake got to do with it?
Tuesday Jun 26, 2018
Tuesday Jun 26, 2018
We call this episode, “What’s Cake Got To Do With It?”. This is because we will discuss the recent Supreme Court ruling upholding Trump’s travel ban and its relation to Masterpiece Cake Shop, Arlene’s Flowers, and the restaurant, Red Hen’s refusal to serve White House Press Secretary, Sarah Sanders.
For many of us, the travel ban decision left us feeling heartbroken and helpless. The decision reminds us of Korematsu, the SCOTUS decision upholding Japanese-American imprisonment. It does not uphold this country’s most basic principles of freedom and equality.
In a powerful dissent, Justice Sotomayor points out the disconnect between the majority’s ruling in this Hawaii v Trump, “where the majority completely sets aside the President’s charged statements about Muslims as irrelevant,” and the holding in Masterpiece Cakeshop, “where the majority considered the state commissioners’ statements about religion to be persuasive evidence of unconstitutional government action.”
Today, LeGaL was joined on our LGBT Podcast by Lambda Legal’s Omar Gonzalez-Pagan. Together, we discuss the decision in the travel ban case, as well as the Court’s decision yesterday in Arlene’s Flowers, a case involving a same-sex couple that was refused service by a flower shop because they were gay.
Tuesday Jun 05, 2018
Masterpiece Cakeshop: Not the Win We Hoped for, Not the Loss We Feared
Tuesday Jun 05, 2018
Tuesday Jun 05, 2018
The Supreme Court ruled narrowly against the Colorado Civil Rights Commission in Masterpiece Cakeshop, based on concerns that the original case was not decided “with the religious neutrality that the Constitution requires.”
In doing so, the Court also reaffirmed the core American principle that businesses open to the public must be open to all.
The unfortunate result of this ruling is that cases like this will continue to be litigated in the courts. In the meantime, LGBT people will have to go about their day to day lives fearing they might be refused service because of who we are.
It is important to note that the Supreme Court did not change the long-standing rule that businesses open to the public must be open to all. This ruling was limited to facts specific to this case, and the court importantly did not give businesses the broad right to discriminate that the bakery and the Trump administration sought here.
Eric Lesh, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar of NY discusses this case with Professor Art Leonard of New York Law School.
Thursday May 31, 2018
Stacking the Courts: The Fight Against Trump's Federal Judicial Nominees
Thursday May 31, 2018
Thursday May 31, 2018
We call this episode “Stacking the Courts: The Fight Against Trump’s Extremist Judicial Nominees.”
That’s because in nomination after nomination, Trump’s picks for federal courts are hostile to civil rights in general and specifically hostile to LGBT rights.
As the Senate tries to rubberstamp and rush these nominees through by confirming them at an alarming pace, Lambda Legal has spearheaded a broad effort elevate the importance of this issue. Lambda is working overtime to expose the records and inform both senators and the public of the dangers Trump’s nominees pose to our rights, to the rule of law, and to the nation itself.
We are speaking with Sasha Buchert, a staff attorney at Lamdda Legal who has been leading their amazing work in this area.
Wednesday May 16, 2018
IDAHOTB! “Queer people anywhere are responsible for queer people everywhere.”
Wednesday May 16, 2018
Wednesday May 16, 2018
Thursday, May 17th is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
It was created in 2004 to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBT people internationally. May 17 is now celebrated in more than 130 countries, including 37 where homosexuality is criminalized.
We have been trying to highlight how Trump’s immigration policies and rhetoric are dangerous and deadly for LGBTQ people.
I am thrilled to be joined by our special guest, Adam Eli. Adam is a community organizer and the founder of Voices4, a non-violent direct action activist group committed to advancing global queer liberation. We also have Azis Toktobaev, a 20 year old, from Kyrgyzstan who is an intern for Voices4.
We will be talking about the treatment of queer people in Russia, the realities that Russian refugees face in the US, their activism, and what our lawyer and activist listeners can do to effectuate change.
Friday May 11, 2018
"Trump Benchslap" May 2018
Friday May 11, 2018
Friday May 11, 2018
We call this LGBT Law Notes episode of the LeGaL Podcast “Trump Benchslap.” That’s because a district court hearing one of the challenges Trump’s hateful transgender military ban saw right through the Administration’s attempt to dress up the same old ban with some fresh paint. The Administration also suffered a tatol defeat in an asylum case before the 9th Circuit. Trump’s favorite Circuit.
We will begin by chatting about these cases with Professor Art Leonard of New York Law School. Art is the chief editorand writer of LGBT Law Notes, the most comprehensive monthly publication covering the latest legal and legislative developments affecting the LGBT community here and abroad.
Then, we will chat with LeGaL's legal director, Brett Figlewski about a NY case involving a child who was conceived and raised by the three individuals in a tri-parent arrangement.
And of course, Art will be surprising us with his choice for our "Of Note" segment.
Hosted by Eric Lesh, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar of NY (LeGaL)
Thursday Apr 12, 2018
“The Transgender Trio” - April 2018
Thursday Apr 12, 2018
Thursday Apr 12, 2018
First, a unanimous Sixth Circuit panel held that discrimination based on transgender status is protected under Title VII
Second, we will give you an update on Trump’s hateful trans military ban.
Third, we will tell you about the flurry of activity around equal access to accurate birth certificates for transgender individuals.
We also have a very special segment this month. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. I sat down with the Anti-Violence Project’s legal director Virginia Goggin to discuss their legal work and how violence impacts our community.
And of course, Art will be surprising me with his choice for our of note segment.
Friday Dec 08, 2017
LGBT Law Notes Podcast: December 2017
Friday Dec 08, 2017
Friday Dec 08, 2017
Discussion of: (1) the oral argument for the blockbuster Masterpiece Cakeshop case at the U.S. Supreme Court; (2) marriage equality finally arriving in the Land Down Under; (3) another preliminary injunction against President Trump's ban on open transgender military service; and (4) two big wins in fully litigated Title VII cases.
Visit le-gal.org to learn more about The LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York and to subscribe to LGBT Law Notes, the most comprehensive monthly publication summarizing legal and legislative developments affecting the LGBT community here and abroad.
Tuesday Nov 14, 2017
LGBT Law Notes Podcast: November 2017
Tuesday Nov 14, 2017
Tuesday Nov 14, 2017
Discussion of: (1) a great first ruling in one of the four movement organization lawsuits brought to stop President Trump’s ban on transgender troops; (2) two memorandums issued by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in October that threaten LGBT rights; (3) a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ordering a new trial after a district court failed to ask jurors about anti-gay biases; and (4) a New York City judge allowing a Polish gay couple to get divorced, despite New York's statutory residency requirement.
Visit le-gal.org to learn more about The LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York and to subscribe to LGBT Law Notes, the most comprehensive monthly publication summarizing legal and legislative developments affecting the LGBT community here and abroad.