Lambda News: January 2010

Lambda News

1.25.2010

Blood Donation Drive!

On February 2, 2010 Lambda Law is sponsoring a Blood Donor Drive in the Kelly Lounge from 11:30AM – 5:30PM. To schedule your appointment to save a life, please click here.

posted by Gloria # 12:10 AM

1.16.2010

Ladies Night!
Yes, the women of Lambda are motivating to hit the town! The HRC is hosting a “national night of celebration for women” on Sunday, 17 January, doors at 8:00 p.m. and show starts at 9:00 p.m. at the Midtown Party Plex. We’ll be gathering for a pre-func and then heading out to the event. For more information, check out the Facebook page.

Gay Blood Drive in the Leather Lounge February 2nd (tentative date - will confirm as event approaches)
The FDA bans men who have had sex with men since 1977 from ever donating blood -- a policy that the Red Cross has called 'medically and scientifically unwarranted.' Gay men are one of only three groups to be banned for life -- the others being prostitutes and intravenous drug users. We'll have more information soon, but we'd love to have a huge turnout -- this is a great event for you to bring allies and friends, both to help the Red Cross and people in need, and to teach the GW community about this discriminatory policy. Many have no idea that it exists.

Mark calendars for Meghan McCain
Allied in Pride (our undergraduate counterpart) is sponsoring Meghan McCain's visit to GW's campus. The event will be held on February 9th, from 7:30-9:00pm in the Jack Morton Auditorium of Media and Public Affairs Building (the brick building at the corner of 21st & H between Au Bon Pan and the Marvin Center). We will send out more information about tickets, etc. as the event approaches.

Calling All Public Interest Folks!
If you really want to be "in the know" when it comes to public interest opportunities at GW, you should sign up for a new email newsletter by the GW Public Interest Community that consolidates the goings-on of all the different public interest groups on campus. If you are interest in joining, please shoot edwards.em@gmail.com an email with "GWPIC" in the subject line.

SCOTUS Ban Camera Coverage of Prop 8 Trial
The SCOTUS ban was only for the live televising of the trial to several federal courthouses. Interestingly, the YouTube delayed content was not yet approved by the Ninth Circuit before the application for a stay was made from district court on the (approved) live streaming to federal courthouses, so the Supreme Court declined to address it in advance. However, the reasoning that led to the stay on the broadcast would be similar for YouTube, so it appears unlikely that we'll see the actual trial as it happens.
The good news is, the Courage Campaign is providing a handy-dandy trial tracker.

Breaking News: Court Victory for Marriage Victory in DC
The Superior Court of the DC found in favor of the DC Board of Elections & Ethics and refused to put an anti-gay initiative on the ballot because it would violate the city’s 1977 Human Rights Act. A personal favorite quote from the opinion: "[I]t is clear that a community cannot by initiative authorize discrimination as a matter of government policy." To view the Court's ruling in its entirety, please click here.

GAYLAW Joint Social with DOJ Pride – Ice Skating
January 27, join GAYLAW and DOJ Pride for ice skating at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, located on the National Mall at 7th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, near the Navy Memorial-Archives Metro (Yellow/Green Lines), from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Cost: $7 for 2 hours, skate rental $3, and lockers 50 cents. For more information click here.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP presents: HOW TO MAKE YOUR RESUME STAND OUT
Check out a panel discussion and reception sponsored by the Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP Diversity Committee (Note: Willkie is a regular sponsor and attendee of our Lambda Networking Night and Lavender Law). Members of Willkie’s Diversity Committee will offer their confidential written comments to resume submitted on or before the RSVP deadline. (Resume submission optional) Willkie’s panel of attorneys will also cover a broad range of practical tips and provide insights on:
DOs and DON'Ts for your resume
Tips on advancing your resume to and beyond initial screening
Importance of your resume at OCI and
Call-back interviews
When: Wednesday, February 10th, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Where: Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, 1875 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006 (Farragut North Metro)
RSVP: To recruiting-dc@willkie.com by Wednesday, January 27th
Business Casual Attire -- Food & Drinks Will Be Served

Catholic University of America Hosts Networking Event With SEC
The Catholic University, Columbus School of Law, in cooperation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, is hosting a symposium event and networking opportunity for law students from Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland on Thursday, February 11, 2010, at the Columbus School of Law from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. The symposium, featuring lawyers from industry and government, will focus on enhancing diversity in the Securities and Financial Services Industry. This event will also provide law students valuable insight on employment opportunities and how to effectively prepare for careers in securities law and the financial services industry. Students will also have the unique opportunity to interact with leaders and lawyers from area law firms, government agencies, and brokerage firms during an informal networking session. Attendees will include the SEC, the CFTC, FINRA, the MSRB, SIFMA, and area law firms. This event is free of charge. Please note that students should RSVP by February 8, 2010, to Ms. Deborah Herman at herman@law.edu. For questions on this event, please contact Ms. Herman as well.

posted by Katie # 12:02 PM

1.08.2010

LIKELY THAT PROP 8 TRIAL WILL BE RECORDED, DISTRIBUTED VIA YOUTUBE

As we mentioned, Chief Judge Vaughn Walker requested comments as to whether Perry v. Schwarzenegger, set to begin Monday in District Court for the Northern District of California, will be televised. He has decided (subject to review by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge Alex Kozinski) to record the trial for live distribution to federal courthouses in San Francisco, Pasadena, Seattle, Portland, and Chicago, and to offer delayed-release via YouTube for the general public.

This is a complicated matter and there are valid arguments to be made on both sides of the recording issue. Fundamental misunderstandings (and total lack of knowledge) about our system of government could be addressed by civic engagement on this level. On the other hand, justice is not served if witnesses feel intimidated and lawyers and judges are motivated by self-aggrandizement rather than their duty to their clients and the law.

NEW JERSEY MARRIAGE VOTE FAILS

Regrettably, the New Jersey Senate defeated a bill that would give marriage equality to its citizens. The vote was 20-14.

New Jersey's progress in this area is somewhat analogous to that of Massachusetts; in both states, state courts decided that the unequal dispensation of rights and benefits to same-sex couples violated state law. Both state courts gave the legislature a short period of time to address the issue. Both state legislatures initially responded with civil unions.

In Massachusetts, the state senate certified a question to the Supreme Judicial Court asking, essentially, if civil unions would be "enough." The court said no, which led to marriage equality in the state. In New Jersey, the issue is more complicated. The original 4-3 majority vote in the court case, Lewis v. Harris, explicitly provided the state legislature with the option to create a "parallel statutory structure" to marriage statutes (i.e. civil unions) instead of amending marriage statutes to include gays and lesbians.

Advocates of marriage equality in New Jersey may choose to further pursue the matter in court, arguing that the civil union arrangement has simply not worked. As one Republican state legislator pointed out during the debate, "we should not be telling one couple you can be married and another couple you can be 'civil unionized.'"

posted by Katie # 5:17 PM

1.07.2010

Friday January 8, 2010
Join us at 2 pm in Bertucci's for a welcome back mentor/mentee lunch. We'd love to see all the mentors and mentees, but please come even if your own mentor or mentee will not be able to make it. Meet by the elevator downstairs in Bertucci's at 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Sunday January 10, 2010
Take a break from weekend reading to hang out this Sunday night at E Street Cinema for a showing of Nine. Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Dame Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Sophia Loren, and Mike Porcello would love to see you at the 8pm showing. Check out our Facebook invite for more details, and watch the trailer too.

Meet at E Street Cinema (555 11th St NW -- the theatre's on the northeast corner of the block) in the lobby at 7:30PM. Bring a student ID for a cheaper ticket.

SIGN PETITION TO TELEVISE PROP 8 TRIAL - DEADLINE FRIDAY 9AM
Regardless of how you feel about Prop 8 going to trial (and there are good arguments both for and against) -- it's going. Chief Judge Vaughn Walker is holding a hearing on whether a pool television camera should be allowed to film the trial, and has encouraged comments.

If you feel that the trial should be televised, please sign the petition at www.couragecampaign.org and add your comments -- by 9am Friday.

posted by Katie # 12:21 PM