Location: Potomac Registration Desk

Location: Meeting Room 6

Location: Meeting Room 7

Our Open Workspace is a room to make a quick call, attend a virtual meeting, catch up on emails, and general work follow up while attending our conference. This room is for active work activities, and may not be quiet or have privacy as there will likely be other attendees using the room. Although you are permitted to speak on your phone and attend a virtual meeting, we request noise to be kept at a minimum and to use headphones whenever possible. Please use this room solely for work, rather than socializing, listening to music, or streaming videos.  

Location: Hickory Room

Our Parents' Room is a private space for parents/caregivers to be able to attend to their child's immediate needs including feeding and changing.  Please note: the Parents' Room is not a childcare service or playroom.

Location: Meeting Room 6

Our Quiet Room is a relaxing space to take a brief break from busy conference activities. Please refrain from in-person or phone conversations and music/videos on your mobile devices in order to keep the room truly quiet and a spot for a peaceful escape from the bustling conference energy. 

Location: River Birch B

2024 TLI Chair: 
D Dangaran (Rights Behind Bars)
 
The Transgender Law Institute is a participatory space where lawyers, law students, and activists invested in or interested in learning more about trans rights and lived experiences can build community and make commitments for collective action. 

This year, the TLI theme is “Embolden.” Our sessions aim to build skills and offer perspectives that will help all attendees become better advocates for the trans community. We invite you to step into this brave space and prepare to engage in our discussions. 

As always, TLI will be a space for everyone affected to discuss the issues facing the trans community, ideate best next steps as a movement, and cultivate trans resiliency. TLI will take an equitable approach to centering trans lived experiences. With that in mind, all are welcome to join the entire Institute. 

TLI is open to all approved Lavender Law attendees. Each session will offer CLE credit or CLE diversity credit.

**View the agenda and register for the Transgender Law Institute (TLI)**

Location: River Birch A

Not for CLE credit through the National LGBTQ+ Bar - please contact your court system regarding Judicial Education credit. 

**View the agenda for the IALGBTQ+J Judicial Institute - Judges Only**

Location: Meeting Rooms 12, 13, & 14

In law school and not sure what path to take for your career? There are many options to consider! Join our panel of a diverse group of legal professionals who will share their career paths, discuss the range of legal and legal-adjacent careers open to those who obtain a JD, and inspire you to find the career of your dreams. Law students and career development professionals only. 

Not for CLE credit.

Location: TBA

Location: Meeting Rooms 10 & 11

Law Students:  All law students registered for the conference are invited to pre-register for a 15-minute 1-on-1 career counseling & resume review session with an experienced attorney. Your counselor can talk with you about resume presentation, interview skills, the realities of various career path choices, navigating the Lavender Law® Career Fair, and more.  Not for CLE credit. 

Update 7/29: Our resume review session is at capacity; interested students may email Patrick at patrick@lgbtqbar.org to get on the waitlist.  

Location: Meeting Rooms 12, 13, & 14

All law students are invited to attend this interactive presentation by returning inspirational guest speaker Jessie DaSilva, Esq. Jessie will be teaching students the 3 steps that anyone can use to turn their biggest dreams into reality: (1) Align your intentions, (2) embody them deeply, and (3) take inspired action daily. And those actions will include exactly how they can embrace their LGBTQ+ identity in their careers along with tips and tricks for navigating the career fair with success. Students will not only walk away feeling inspired, but knowing exactly how to catch their post-law school dreams, too.

Not for CLE credit. 

Location: All Anacostias

Location: Lunch in Meeting Room 4; Program in River Birch B

The LGBT Family Law Institute® (“FLI”), a joint venture of the National LGBTQ+ Bar and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, is a year-round membership group which allows experienced LGBTQ+ family law practitioners to share collective wisdom and to discuss cutting-edge legal strategies for representing members of the LGBTQ+ community on such matters as family creation, assisted reproductive technology, ethics, interstate and international parentage issues, estate planning, collaborative law, transgender issues, dissolution of relationships, and elder law. The annual meeting of FLI is held at the Lavender Law® Conference each year and is open only to dues-paying members of FLI. Annual meeting sessions are not formal lectures, but rather are structured to encourage participation from everyone in attendance. The meeting will be closed and the proceedings will not be recorded.

FLI members who register for Lavender Law® will be automatically registered for the Luncheon and Annual Meeting. Experienced family law practitioners wishing to join FLI and attend the annual meeting must submit an application, undergo an interview, and join both FLI and the National LGBTQ+ Bar as dues-paying members before being approved to attend the meeting. Click here to see more details about the FLI application process.

All FLI members: Please save the date for FLI Virtual: Tuesday, August 20th from 8:00 am to 11:00 a.m. PST / 9:00 – 12:00 MST / 10:00 – 1:00 CST / 11:00 to 2:00 EST. The Zoom line will be shared on the FLI listserv following Lavender Law®.  As always, both meetings are restricted to FLI members.  Members may attend the Virtual meeting  – at no charge – even if they do not attend Lavender Law®  / FLI in person.  

**View the agenda for the Family Law Institute (FLI) - LGBT Family Law Institute® Members Only**

Location: Potomac I, II & III; Rock Creek A, B & C

The National LGBTQ+ Bar’s annual Lavender Law® Career Fair is designed to achieve a sense of community and inclusion for LGBTQ+ candidates within the legal profession’s recruiting efforts. By participating in this career fair, candidates will talk directly to LGBTQ+ friendly recruiters from law firms, government agencies, LGBTQ+ rights groups, and corporate legal departments. Candidates are encouraged to discuss their identity and aspirations to become part of a bias-free work environment. Keep a copy of your resume handy to share! Sponsors are encouraged to take this opportunity to showcase their diversity efforts to top level law students and lateral candidates from around the country. Our 2024 Recruiters are listed here - join us!

Location: Meeting Rooms 3 & 5

2:00PM - 2:30PM - Meditation
2:30PM - 3:15PM - Public Interest Trans Lawyers
3:15PM - 4:00PM - BIPOC Trans Lawyers Breakout Sessions

Not for CLE credit. 

Location: Magnolia Ballroom

All attending law students are invited to attend this post-Career Fair reception to mix and mingle with members of the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges. Don't miss this chance to meet some of the trailblazers of our movement! 

For Law Students and Judges only.  

Location: Anacostia Ballrooms & Foyer

Location: The Little Gay Pub, Washington, D.C.

This event is open to all attorneys in their first ten years of practice who are interested in getting involved with the LGBTQ+ Bar's New Lawyers Division.  A limited number of drinks will be sponsored by Cooley LLP on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Location: Offsite

Women-identified and Nonbinary-identified law students of color and legal professionals of color are invited to an informal, get-to-know-you dinner. Confirmed attendees will pay approximately ~$70 per attendee; those attending on a complimentary basis (accepted law students and those approved for scholarship) will still incur a $1 processing fee.  Please RSVP when you register for the conference.  

Update 7/31: Our 2024 Affinity Dinners are now at capacity and all accepted registrants have been notified. Please email programs@lgbtqbar.org with any questions, however, no additional slots will be available. 

Location: Potomac Registration Desk

Location: Meeting Room 6

Location: Potomac Foyer

Location: Meeting Room 1

Our Parents' Room is a private space for parents/caregivers to be able to attend to their child's immediate needs including feeding and changing.  Please note: the Parents' Room is not a childcare service or playroom.

Location: Meeting Room 7

Our Open Workspace is a room to make a quick call, attend a virtual meeting, catch up on emails, and general work follow up while attending our conference. This room is for active work activities, and may not be quiet or have privacy as there will likely be other attendees using the room. Although you are permitted to speak on your phone and attend a virtual meeting, we request noise to be kept at a minimum and to use headphones whenever possible. Please use this room solely for work, rather than socializing, listening to music, or streaming videos.  

Location: Meeting Room 6

Our Quiet Room is a relaxing space to take a brief break from busy conference activities. Please refrain from in-person or phone conversations and music/videos on your mobile devices in order to keep the room truly quiet and a spot for a peaceful escape from the bustling conference energy. 

Location: River Birch A

2024 T&E Law Institute Leaders:
Elizabeth Schwartz (Elizabeth F. Schwartz, P.A.)
Paula Kohut (Kohut, Adams and Randall, P.A.)

The Trust & Estates Institute is a space for the leading legal minds involved with trust and estates law, as it pertains to the LGBTQ+ community, to share ideas and network. The Institute is designed to offer experienced trust and estates practitioners the opportunity to discuss issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community and discuss legal trends and strategies for now and in the near future. The T&E Institute offers high-level group discourse rather than a traditional CLE lecture format, as well as an opportunity for practitioners to collaborate with a national network of experienced practitioners. To create an environment that encourages the free flow of information, pre-registration is requested and space is limited. The meeting will be closed and the proceedings will not be recorded. The Trust & Estates Institute is not open to law students.  One hour of CLE credit is expected. 

**View the agenda and register for the Trusts & Estates Law Institute (T&E)**

Location: Rock Creek C

When name and gender marker changes are public record, they pose safety and privacy concerns, particularly for transgender, gender nonconforming and nonbinary (TGNCNB) people. This workshop will include discussion of the privacy and safety concerns for people seeking judgments of name change and what can be done to promote safety, privacy, and wellbeing in an era of transgender backlash. The session will consider these issues primarily from two perspectives: (1) systemic reforms implemented by court systems to improve accessibility of the judicial name change process and (2) individual advocacy efforts by direct legal service providers. Leaders in sexual orientation and gender identity inclusion for the New Jersey Judiciary and the New York Unified Court System will discuss the ways their respective unified court systems have endeavored to balance transparency in court proceedings and the safety and privacy interests of name change applicants through a variety of systemic changes. For the New Jersey Courts, these efforts include rules amendments that ended requirements for newspaper publication and implemented a categorical exclusion of name change records from public view. For the New York Courts, these efforts include implementation of the Gender Recognition Act and an array of initiatives led by the Failla Commission. In both instances the importance of positive engagement between courts, advocates, and stakeholders will also be discussed. Direct service providers in California and New York will discuss the strategies they use to advocate for sealing and confidentiality for petitioners, on a case-by-case basis, including in broader impact cases. Strategies include appellate work and acting as amici. The panel will discuss the recent New York 3rd Department case, In re Cody VV, CV-23-0596, which decided that name changes for TGNCNB petitioners should be sealed unless there is a “substantial basis” to deny sealing.

Location: Rock Creek A

By invitation to Corporate Counsel, Patron level and above law firm sponsors, and VIP attendees.

Resetting the DEI Partnership: Pivoting the In-House Counsel's DEI Framework in Working with Outside Counsel in 2024

In-house counsels and outside firms have partnered for years to promote diversity in the legal profession. In recent years, many in-house counsels expanded required measurements and quantitative reporting on outside firms’ diversity initiatives. With the changing legal landscape, in-house counsels are interested in continuing efforts to support diversity and inclusion in the profession, particularly among outside counsel representation, but corporate and firm legal departments need to rethink how to promote diversity. Although some firms and in-house departments might be rethinking the use of reporting data for DEI, partnering across employee resource groups and other opportunities to strengthen relationships remain a focus and are growing in importance. This panel will discuss those and other ways that businesses and firms are partnering to promote diversity.

Location: Meeting Room 5

All law professors, Deans, and law school administrators are welcome to join this informal gathering of law school professionals to discuss hot topics in legal education for LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and administrators.

Not for CLE credit.

Location: Meeting Rooms 12, 13, & 14

Come meet and collaborate with fellow law students in a session specifically designed for and about law school LGBTQ+ related issues and LGBTQ+ law students. This is an opportunity to interact and communicate directly with the 2024-2025 Law Student Congress board leadership. In this session, you will be able to interact and discuss substantive issues amongst peers from across the country, address challenges unique to law students in the LGBTQ+ community, and discuss in-person how to effect positive change within your law school campuses and greater communities.

Not for CLE credit.

Location: Meeting Room 4

This caucus will provide an opportunity for legal aid and legal services attorneys and legal workers to meet to discuss issues relevant to the provision of legal services to low-income LGBTQ+ clients. Join us to reconnect with other Legal Aid lawyers and for the presentation of the 2024 Legal Services Justice Award!

Not for CLE credit.

Location: Meeting Rooms 8 & 9

The Prosecutors' Caucus is an informal community of LGBTQ+ prosecutors. It provides an opportunity to network and discuss LGBTQ+ issues in the criminal justice system.

Not for CLE credit.

Location: Anacostia F

Migrant children are entering the United States in record numbers, resulting in more state court cases involving these children. In 2022, 152,880 unaccompanied children arrived in the United States, more than doubling the pre-pandemic numbers from 2019, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics. Many come from Central America, where they are fleeing drug cartels, child labor, discrimination based upon indigenous or LGBTQIA status, and extreme poverty that deprives them of necessities such as food and education. Whether arriving with a parent or unaccompanied, most of these children face an uncertain route to navigating the immigration system and remaining lawfully within the United States. Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Status is a form of immigration relief aimed at allowing children who have been victims of parental abuse, neglect, abandonment to remain safely in the United States with a pathway to lawful permanent residence. Judicial findings related to discrimination faced by LGBTQIA youth can be a reason that it would not be in a child’s best interest to be returned to their home country. Judges and lawyers should be sensitive and responsive to the specific needs of LGBTQIA immigrant children, including challenges LGBTQIA youth may face here in the U.S. in their communities or while receiving services. This panel brings together a judge who hears SIJ cases, an immigrant rights’ attorney who has represented LGBTQIA youth, a national LGBTQIA child welfare attorney who has developed a training for organizations working with youth, and a young person with lived experience as to how to meet the needs of the vulnerable population of youth and provide a path forward to permanent status.

Location: Anacostia E

There has been a dramatic rise in dehumanizing rhetoric and legislative attacks targeting the LGBTQ+ community in the United States, which has coincided with the rise of the far right. In fact, more anti-LGBTQ+ bills were passed in the last legislative session than the last three years combined and this year looks to be far worse. This horrific spike in targeting is not just occurring in the U.S. In Russia, Vladimir Putin has pushed for and passed harsh anti-LGBTQ laws, including an anti-propaganda law. In Hungary, Victor Orban has pursued and advanced anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and legislation that has marginalized LGBTQ+ Hungarians. In Uganda, harsh punitive legislation has been advanced targeting LGBTQ+ Ugandans. In the Americas, advocates in Argentina are deeply concerned about the consequences of the rise of the far right, far right state legislators in the U.S. continue to impose harsher and harsher policies with few checks from the judiciary, and politicians in Canada have begun weaponizing the law to target LGBTQ+ people. Much of the legislative and rhetoric often appears to pull from the same playbook, making it increasingly clear that the far-right has been mobilizing and organizing globally to advance this agenda.

Location: River Birch B

This program aims to support LGBTQ+ attorneys by incorporating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) values into their legal advocacy, enhancing their practice and career trajectory. It provides both an educational experience and a call to action, urging legal practitioners to actively include DEI principles in their representation strategies. The program offers a platform for participants to interact with a panel of LGBTQ+ attorneys, DEI experts, and seasoned litigators. The panelists will provide profound insights, share tried-and-tested practices, and outline actionable strategies to foster an inclusive legal environment. The program will feature illustrative examples and case studies to showcase the effective application of DEI principles in legal settings and highlight the positive outcomes of inclusive advocacy. Furthermore, the program explores creating a supportive environment that enables diverse individuals to confidently express their truths, ensuring their stories are acknowledged and valued in legal processes. Participants will also gain insights into how in-house attorneys are pioneering accountability in DEI practices, setting new standards for law firms. We will discuss how corporate counsel are not only advocating for enhanced DEI within their organizations but also demanding it from their external counsel, thereby creating a ripple effect of DEI excellence across the legal profession. This segment will highlight the critical role in-house counsel play in promoting sustainable DEI practices and how they leverage their unique positions to influence broader legal ecosystems, drive change, and establish benchmarks for best practices in corporate legal departments and their outside counsel.

Location: TBA

Location: Rock Creek B

By 2025, half of HR departments could be using AI, and many HR departments have already embraced AI far beyond just tinkering with ChatGPT. With government officials from every level paying attention, the buzz around AI and the risks associated with AI has sparked an unprecedented flurry of hearings and proposed legislation. This panel, made up of experts at the forefront of AI risk management and privacy, will share insider insights regarding the wave of AI laws and regulations brewing in Congress, state capitals, and regulatory forums worldwide, and will discuss what this surge in government activity means for workers, employers, technology companies, advocates and society.

Location: Meeting Rooms 8 & 9

LGBTQ+ individuals face disproportionate rates of hate crimes, domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent offenses. Yet, navigating the criminal justice system often presents unique challenges due to discrimination, fear of re-victimization, and lack of awareness. This panel discussion, led by experienced prosecutors specializing in hate crimes, domestic violence, and sexual assault, will explore how the system can better serve LGBTQ+ victims and defendants. Focusing on recent legislative changes like prosecutor-initiated resentencing and victim history of domestic violence considerations, the panel will dissect their potential impact on LGBTQ+ cases. Open discussions will address strategies for improving victim support, changing law to implement LGBTQ+ competent sexual assault evidence collection, and tackling implicit bias within the system. Through collaboration and advocacy, panelists will highlight effective practices and policies that strive towards achieving justice and equity for the LGBTQ+ community. This panel will lay the groundwork for a crucial dialogue on building a more inclusive and responsive criminal justice system for all.

Location: Meeting Rooms 10 & 11

By invitation to Corporate Counsel and Patron level and above law firm sponsors. Contact paul@lgbtqbar.org for more information. 

Location: Anacostia D

This panel will explore how to leverage legal expertise to help shape culture. Attorneys will explore how their legal background has helped to shape creative endeavors. The panel will feature attorneys who are publishing novels, designing fashion, and advising entrepreneurs in the creative and cultural economy. This panel will explore best legal practices, common pitfalls for those launching their own business, and share paths to success for attorneys looking to explore creative endeavors within their own legal practice and beyond.

Location: Meeting Rooms 12, 13, & 14

Out of the over 1000 law school clinical programs across the country, less than ten of those clinics specifically serve LGBTQ people and communities. We are living through a time when the legal rights of LGBTQ people are being stripped at an unprecedented rate and the violence against members of our LGBTQ communities is growing exponentially. It is arguably more important now than ever to increase the capacity for legal advocates working to protect the rights - and lives - of LGBTQ people. One way to do this would be to develop clinical programs at law schools across the country - especially in conservative states with clear intentions of erasing their TGNCINB population - focused on serving LGBTQ communities. The need for this is twofold: (1) as stated above, there is an urgent need for more advocates defending LGBTQ people in an informed and affirming fashion, and (2) the legal educational system needs to do a better job at teaching law students how to do the former effectively. The panelists include two educators who started LGBTQ Advocacy Clinics at their respective law schools, and their former clinical students. The panelists will discuss how they started their programs, any challenges they faced along the way, the importance of such clinics from the perspectives of the educators and students, and tips to those interested in beginning a similar clinical program at another law school.

Not for CLE credit. 

Location: River Birch B

This panel, moderated by Jackson Block (LGBT+ VC), will explore and discuss state, federal, and international laws and regulations facing startup founders, with special attention to issues that LGBTQ+ founders uniquely face. Panelists will share their vast experience as company and investor counsel by reviewing incorporation types that impact company structure, mission, and applicable law; navigating the realm of rapidly-evolving laws and regulations pertaining to intellectual property and privacy; sharing issue-spotting techniques to meet multistate employment rules in the era of remote work; and reviewing best practices for managing ownership and capitalization as startups seek (and accept!) funding from VCs or others. For active and curious investors, this panel will also discuss how to structure investment vehicles and create effective legal entities for fundraising and deploying capital.

Location: Rock Creek C

Gender-affirming medical care is often critical, necessary, and even life saving for many transgender people. Every major medical organization supports the provision of this care and decades of study and clinical experience have proven it to be safe, effective, and firmly grounded in scientific evidence. Yet, over the past three years, twenty-three (23) states have enacted laws banning or restricting access to medical care for transgender youth. Several states, like Florida and Ohio, have adopted restrictions on the provision of this care for adults, while others have restricted the use of state funding, including Medicaid coverage, for the provision or support of gender-affirming medical care. Many of these restrictions have been or are presently being challenged in the courts. By contrast, several other states have enacted “shield” laws protecting providers of this essential healthcare within their borders. This workshop will address the litigation and policy landscape pertaining to the provision of gender-affirming medical care in the United States. Panelists will also discuss the practical implications of these policy and litigation developments on transgender people, healthcare professionals, and health systems.

Location: Anacostia F

This workshop will discuss the basics of the US immigration system, including on how it relates to the LGBTQ+ community. We will discuss not only how to visit the US temporarily, but also various nonimmigrant (temporary) and immigrant (permanent) visa options. With a focus on business immigration, we will explain the best options for companies in the US who require foreign talent and/or are planning to invest and expand into the US. Additionally, we will discuss fiancé and marriage based visas and best practices. Finally, we will discuss what we can expect depending on who will win the next presidential election.

Location: Anacostia E

Many of us desire to balance our billable work with a pro bono matter that might not drive revenue but can help an individual or organization in need. However, especially for newer attorneys, being staffed on these projects can require planning to seek out opportunities.

● Learn about common pro bono case types and team structures;
● Learn about common ways to find pro bono opportunities;
● Learn how to assess pro bono opportunities to find cases that matter to you and align with your personal and professional goals;
● Learn tips on carving out time for pro bono matters;
● Learn how to engage with pro bono clients in a manner that is attuned to their special needs and expectations;
● Learn how to make an impact on a pro bono case team;
● Learn how to leverage your pro bono experience into other areas professional development;
● Learn common pitfalls of pro bono cases and teams, and how to avoid them;
● Learn about opportunities for pro bono engagement for those that work outside of law firms;
● Learn how to identify a supervising partner who is willing to work with you on a pro bono matter.

Please join the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association's New Lawyer Division as we explore how attorneys in their first decade of practice can network to begin a pro bono practice.

Location: TBA

Location: Potomac I, II, III; Rock Creek A (Overflow)

12:00 PM - Seated Luncheon
12:15 PM - Plenary Begins

The traditional framework of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) seeks fair treatment and participation for all people, especially those who have historically faced discrimination or been underrepresented, with the goal of correcting systemic inequities. In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College addressing affirmative action in college admissions, together with some states’ legislative and/or executive branch decisions to abolish DEI efforts in 2023 and 2024, however, the concept of DEI is being rethought in a number of spheres across America. That rethinking has potential ramifications not only for people whose racial identities are underrepresented in numerous sectors, but also for LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, women, and others; it moreover has the potential to heavily impact people with multiple intersectional identities. This panel of experts in constitutional law, LGBTQ+ law, and DEI work will address the current state of DEI in America; will analyze how the law regarding LGBTQ+ status may or may not differ from the constitutional and statutory analyses of other identities; and will contemplate where our nation may be headed with regard to inclusion and our Constitutional promise of a more perfect union establishing justice. Please join us for this educational luncheon - 1 hour of CLE credit is anticipated.

Location: TBA

Location: Rock Creek A

Please note that attendance at CCI is only for in-house counsel attorneys. If you wish to attend please contact development@lgbtqbar.org. 

**View the agenda for the Corporate Counsel Institute (CCI)**

Location: Anacostia D

The federal 340B drug pricing program requires drug manufacturers to offer drugs at discounted prices to certain health care providers that make up the nation's health care safety net, including health care providers focused on HIV and STD prevention. The 340B program allows providers to purchase PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) at discounted prices. PrEP is a key tool in preventing the spread of HIV in the LGBTQ community. Panelists will provide background on the 340B program, including how it can reduce costs for health care providers and generate financial resources to support patient care and public health programming, including in the HIV prevention space. The workshop will review recent 340B program developments that are impacting the ability to access PrEP at 340B pricing, including federal litigation and proposed legislation. Panelists will also discuss developments related to PrEP distribution and how those changes may impact the ability to access PrEP at 340B pricing.

Location: Rock Creek B

The panel will discuss current trends in state and federal legislative efforts aimed at censoring LGBTQ+-related speech and content, including through the removal and restriction public school library books and online content, and how these bills have and could have impacted LGBTQ+ communities. Further, the panelists will discuss potential legal challenges to current content moderation policies, and alternative methods of safeguarding the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ communities.

Location: Meeting Rooms 8 & 9

In recent years, the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in civil and criminal courtrooms across the country has intensified, requiring a heightened degree of vigilance and cultural competence from legal advocates. In the context of civil rights cases involving alleged law enforcement misconduct against the LGBTQ+ community, or in criminal matters involving prosecution of LGBTQ+ individuals, LGBTQ+ lawyers (specifically LGBTQ+ lawyers of color and women) who represent clients on either side of the adversarial system face unique personal and professional considerations. On one hand, LGBTQ+ lawyers representing LGBTQ+ clients, many of whom are indigent people of color, must reconcile the immense privilege afforded by their law license with the nuanced understanding that such privilege does not immunize them from the systems of oppression and inequity impacting their clients. On the other hand, LGBTQ+ lawyers representing the government or the state, some in conservative jurisdictions, must combat respectability politics while operating and advocating within deeply entrenched systems, practices, and beliefs. On either side of these typically complex and contentious legal matters, LGBTQ+ lawyers must carefully balance zealous advocacy for their clients’ positions, personal interests in advancing diversity and inclusion, as well as self-care and compassion. Navigating such cases is difficult and exhausting, and requires creative and intersectional approaches rooted in equity, anti-racism, solidarity, and civility. This panel features LGBTQ+ lawyers of color who represent or have represented either LGBTQ+ clients or the government in civil rights and criminal matters. Accomplished leaders in their own right, the panelists will reflect on their own experiences advocating for justice and equity in their respective roles, as well as outside of it. By and through the panelists’ lived experience, this panel will cover the unique challenges and opportunities presented to LGBTQ+ lawyers in these cases, the value of identity-concordant legal representation, the importance of creative lawyering and civility in advancing social change from opposing sides, advice on effective advocacy, and strategies to hold care and compassion to achieve a sustainable and meaningful legal career.

Location: River Birch B

This panel covers recent developments in federal benefits and policies affecting LGBTQ+ people and their families. In response to the Biden Administration’s policy priorities and advocacy efforts on same sex unions and gender identity issues, federal agencies have issued rules and operational guidelines to benefit queer folks. While we celebrate these wins, we have not yet achieved full equality and inclusivity in federal benefits. In addition, there is a record volume of anti-LGBTQI+ legislation and litigation across states. This panel will relay how the Social Security Administration, the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services, Office of Personnel Management, and the Department of Defense, and Veterans Administration have responded to same-sex relationship recognition, gender identity, and coverage for gender-affirming care – spotlighting wins for our community and elevating issues ripe for continued advocacy. Panelists will discuss recent changes in Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan (FEHB) coverage of transgender-related surgeries and the continued role for lawyers and advocates in helping TGI & LGBQ people in federal service obtain actual coverage that meets their health needs. Presenters will also discuss how the Administration for Community Living’s new Older Americans Act regulations impact LGBTQI+ older people and older people with HIV. Panelists will talk about what is on our LGBTQI+ aging policy agenda. They will also discuss the unwinding of the Public Health Emergency Medicaid protections and the disparate impact on the LGBTQI+ community. Regardless of your practice area, this presentation will help you to advocate for yourself, your family and friends, and your clients, who may rely on, or be entitled to, federal support.

Location: River Birch A

Each year, members of the judiciary come together to discuss their career trajectory and provide advice to young professionals interested in ascending the bench. Representing a diverse array of judges, panelists will discuss both the appointed and elected processes for judges in different jurisdictions as well as ethical guidelines or standards associated with panelists’ paths to becoming judges or retaining their positions. The challenges of being an openly LGBTQ+ judge, especially in relation to judicial ethics codes, will also be a focus. Members of the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges will be available during and after the session to talk further with attendees.

Location: Anacostia E

Mastering legal skills is crucial for attorneys, but understanding the business side of law is equally vital, especially for those in the early stages of their careers. The National LGBTQ+ Bar Association's New Attorney Division offers a targeted program for attorneys with less than ten years of practice, focusing on essential business development skills like effective networking, personal branding, social media savvy, and building meaningful professional relationships. This program is designed to help early-career attorneys understand the business side of law, which is equally important to mastering legal skills. The panelists will share their personal success stories, actionable strategies, and innovative tips in a dynamic format comprising panel discussions, interactive Q&As, and networking opportunities. By attending the program, participants will learn how to build a toolkit for business development and implement effective strategies for career growth and long-term success in the legal field. Key topics covered in the program include an overview of why business development is crucial for early-career attorneys and its impact on career growth, how to network effectively, choose the right events, make lasting impressions, and nurture professional relationships, techniques for developing a personal brand, leveraging social media, tips for maintaining strong relationships with existing clients and strategies for expanding your client base and addressing common obstacles early-career attorneys face in business development and strategies to overcome them.

Not for CLE credit. 

Location: Anacostia F

Historic adversities stemming from the intersectionality between race and sexual orientation continues to create disproportionate hardships among Black LGBTQIA+ individuals. In fact, Black LGBTQ individuals experience compound effects of heightened discrimination levels in the workplace, health care systems, and police interactions. Against this backdrop, this two-hour facilitated workshop will address the multiple layers of systemic barriers affecting Black LGBTQ communities and analyze the current legal landscape on national emerging trends such as the Criminalization Laws of HIV/AIDS Statuses, Book Banning, Don’t Say Gay Legislation, Gay Panic Defense in Criminal Cases, issues affecting Black Transgender people, Employment Rights for LGBTQ individuals, and so much more. Using hypotheticals and concrete examples, panelists will discuss potential upcoming legal challenges to controversial laws, and information concerning other legislation. This interactive CLE will also equip practitioners to better understand the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ people, and advance equal protection under the law for marginalized LGBTQ communities.

Location: Meeting Rooms 12, 13, & 14

This caucus will gather together transgender, nonbinary, genderqueer, and gender nonconforming law students from across the country (and the world) to discuss the unique experience of navigating law school—from cold calls to externships to interfacing with administration—through the lens of one of the only demographics in the country that is currently the target of a relentless legislative campaign attacking their civil rights. We will discuss the challenges we face, how we build solidarity and engage allies, successful student activist tactics, and simply exist together in a space where our transness can be celebrated and lifted up.

Not for CLE credit. 

Location: Meeting Room 4

The National LGBTQ+ Bar’s Nuts & Bolts Academy for Judicial Candidates seeks to provide interested legal professionals with the tools they need to end up on the other side of the bench. This intensive workshop welcomes legal professionals from all backgrounds and parts of the country, as the National LGBTQ+ Bar believes diverse perspectives bring diverse experiences to the bench – and diverse experiences lead to better judgments.  Applications are now closed.  Please write to programs@lgbtqbar.org with any questions. 

Not for CLE credit. 

Location: TBA

Location: Potomac III

In 2015, in Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court held that the 14th Amendment guaranteed same-sex couples the right to marry. The fight for marriage equality, however, began decades earlier, with AAPIs playing a prominent role. In 1931, a Filipino man was denied a license to marry a white woman because of California's antimiscegenation law. He sued and won, in Roldan v. Los Angeles County. In the 1950s, in Naim v. Naim, the Virginia courts voided a marriage between a Chinese man and a white woman, relying on the right of states to prevent the "corruption of the races"; the Supreme Court declined to hear the case, apparently because it did not believe the country was ready for mixed marriages. When the Supreme Court finally struck down bars on interracial marriage in Loving v. Virginia in 1967, the JACL played an important role. And in 1990, Genora Dancel and Ninia Baehr were denied a marriage license in Honolulu. They sued and their efforts led to the first decision in the country to invalidate a state restriction on same-sex marriage. The victory was short-lived, as Hawaii thereafter passed a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples. Nonetheless, Baehr v. Miike was a landmark decision. This program, the 15th in a series of reenactments presented by AABANY, tells the story of plaintiffs in Baehr v. Miike and examines the role of AAPIs in the fight for marriage equality, through narration, reenactment of court proceedings, and historic photos.

Location: Meeting Rooms 8 & 9

The modern LGBTQ+ movement has been shaped by the criminalization of who we are and the use of the criminal legal system to police, incarcerate, and surveil our communities. This has caused disparate rates of incarceration and police interactions by LGBTQ+ people. At the same time, our community faces discrimination and poverty that both feed this cycle and run parallel to it. What can be done? And how can lawyers in the criminal and civil legal systems work together to offer a new partnership and approach? This workshop will explore the myriad legal issues impacting LGBTQ+ people who have experiences with the criminal legal system, collateral consequences and harms of the system, and an approach based on the roles and expertise of the criminal defense bars, civil legal services providers, national LGBTQ+ organizations, and law firms. We will discuss case studies and service models to address the needs of our community throughout this cycle of criminalization. For example, how do we address housing and employment discrimination using civil remedies? How do we protect the rights of criminal defendants from bias and discrimination? How do we affirm and enforce the constitutional and statutory rights of people in carceral settings? And how do we address the needs of people who are coming home and face legal issues in family law and government benefits? Panelists will also discuss practical tips on how to represent LGBTQ+ people based on their experiences in civil cases and criminal cases. Panelists are experts in the field and have led groundbreaking litigation on behalf of LGBTQ+ people and are leaders of state-wide civil legal services, city-wide criminal defense practice, and a national LGBTQ+ organization with a focus on the criminal legal system. We hope to engage audience members in this conversation on how the criminal and civil bars can support each other and strategize ways to assist our communities comprehensively.

Location: Anacostia D

Despite decades of advances in the science and medicine of HIV treatment and prevention, laws criminalizing People Living with HIV (PLWH) remain on the books across the United States. This panel explores the ways HIV criminalization entangles public health and medicine in the criminal legal system: the complicated and sometimes combative ways that medicine, public health, and their practitioners are mobilized in the enforcement of HIV-related criminal law, and how advocates and practitioners have pushed back. Panelists will review (1) the HIV criminalization legal landscape, (2) the ways in HIV-related criminal laws are enforced (including by relying on outdated medical and public health findings), and (3) winning arguments and strategies reformers have used to modernize HIV criminal laws with the support of public health, medicine, and the community of PLWH. Each panel member will bring to the discussion a unique perspective on HIV criminalization, including that of the legal aid practitioner, policy researcher, public health practitioner, and reform advocate. Together, the panel will also discuss the importance of cultivating a multidisciplinary advocacy team to address systemic misconceptions about HIV and HIV criminalization, with a focus on developing portable skills and action items for participants fighting against HIV criminalization and the criminalization of other forms of identity and health status.

Location: River Birch B

Recent developments in law and policy impact LGBTQ+ family formation. Panelists will explore the significance of these developments for the LGBTQ+ community. Leading reproductive rights advocates will discuss the intersectional movement to address disparities and expand access to infertility care through legislation and litigation, while national experts in LGBTQ+ family law will explore the threat and promise of recent legislative developments and emerging trends. The discussion will address recent clarifications to the definition of infertility and efforts to expand public and private infertility coverage, efforts to expand - or curtail - access to assisted reproduction and health care, the embryo personhood movement, state and federal “fertility fraud” criminalization bills, foster care “license to discriminate” bills, developments in parentage law, statutory enshrinement of definitions of terms such as “sex” and “mother and father,” changes to custody law to favor or disfavor supportive parents of T/GNC youth, positive developments in state parentage law and federal policy, and what attendees can do to support, protect, and advocate for their clients, families, and community amidst a rapidly shifting and increasingly fractured legal landscape.

Location: River Birch A

Far too few individuals in the legal field have experienced the community, gratitude, and resilience that can arise from peer support meetings. In this extremely interactive program, we will both (a) discuss what peer support is and the role it can serve in promoting well-being, especially in the queer legal community, and (b) actually engage in some confidential and validating peer support as a group. No mental health diagnosis, substance use disorder, or previous support group experience is necessary to participate. All who are struggling or who have struggled as LGBTQ+ people in law are welcome to attend. Feel free to also attend if you are interested in learning a model for creating safe spaces for colleagues, friends or others within legal spaces to promote authentic communication.

Not for CLE credit. 

Location: Meeting Rooms 12, 13, & 14

This presentation provides a comprehensive understanding of the legal landscape surrounding the rights and protections of transgender individuals in the academic and professional realms of the legal field. The presentation covers key laws such as Title VII, Title IX, Section 504, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), offering insights into how these statutes safeguard the rights of transgender students and professionals. The content begins with an introduction emphasizing the significance of diversity and inclusion in the legal sector, followed by an exploration of essential terminology to foster a better understanding of the issues at hand. The core of the presentation delves into the legal framework, dissecting the implications of civil rights laws, such as Title VII, Title IX, Section 504, and the ADA for transgender individuals. Each law is examined in detail, with a focus on recent legal developments, landmark cases, and practical applications in law schools and early legal employment. The implications of recent Supreme Court and Circuit Court decisions, such as Bostock, Students for Fair Admissions, and Williams v. Kincaid, will be at the forefront of the discussion. The presentation outlines best practices for institutions, offering guidance on creating inclusive policies, fostering supportive environments, and implementing effective hiring practices. Case studies are presented to highlight successful examples of institutions that have excelled in supporting transgender individuals, sharing valuable lessons and best practices. The presentation also addresses common challenges faced by transgender students and employees and provides strategies for overcoming these obstacles. A conclusion summarizes key points, emphasizing the importance of ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. The presentation concludes with a resources section, offering information on organizations and publications that provide support and guidance. The audience is encouraged to engage in a Q&A session, fostering further discussion and understanding. Ultimately, this presentation serves as a comprehensive guide for legal professionals, educators, and students, promoting awareness, inclusivity, and a commitment to creating environments that respect and protect the rights of transgender individuals in the field of law.

Location: Rock Creek B

The Affordable Care Act established the right to nondiscrimination in the provision of health care programs and services, including delivery of, payment for, and coverage of health care. However, rulemaking pursuant to this law, known as Section 1557, has proven controversial due to litigation over, among other things, the scope of protections it afforded LGBTQI+ people. The Biden-Harris Administration’s latest rulemaking under Section 1557 (pending release in April 2024) restores and expands explicit recognition of the law’s landmark protections for gender affirming care and access to reproductive health care. But will it survive the courts? Panelists will discuss the history and scope of Section 1557, break down the new Section 1557 nondiscrimination rule, and anticipate litigation challenges and results that could have a profound impact on the availability of LGBTQI+-specific health services in the years to come.

Location: Rock Creek A

Location: Potomac I, II

Location: Meeting Room 16

Location: Redbud Room

Learn more about our Justice Council here. 

Location: Anacostia F

All Lavender Law® registered attendees who are people of color are invited to attend the National LGBTQ+ Bar's inaugural People of Color Reception. Join us to mix, mingle, and network in community. 

Location: Offsite

Presented in partnership by NAPABA's LGBTQ+ Division and the National LGBTQ+ Bar, all AAPI LGBTQ+ identifying law students and legal professionals are invited to an informal, get-to-know-you dinner. Confirmed attendees will pay approximately ~$70 per attendee; those attending on a complimentary basis (accepted law students and those approved for scholarship) will still incur a $1 processing fee. Please RSVP when you register for the conference.  

Update 7/31: Our 2024 Affinity Dinners are now at capacity and all accepted registrants have been notified. Please email programs@lgbtqbar.org with any questions, however, no additional slots will be available. 

Location: Offsite

Members of the Black LGBTQ+ Legal Professionals' Caucus (a joint endeavor of the National LGBTQ+ Bar and the National Bar Association's LGBTQ+ Division) are invited to an informal, get-to-know-you dinner. Confirmed attendees will pay approximately ~$70 per attendee; those attending on a complimentary basis (accepted law students and those approved for scholarship) will still incur a $1 processing fee. Please RSVP when you register for the conference.  

Update 7/31: Our 2024 Affinity Dinners are now at capacity and all accepted registrants have been notified. Please email programs@lgbtqbar.org with any questions, however, no additional slots will be available. 

Location: Offsite

Presented in partnership by the Hispanic National Bar Association's LGBTQ+ Division and the National LGBTQ+ Bar, all Latine LGBTQ+ identifying law students and legal professionals are invited to an informal, get-to-know-you dinner. Confirmed attendees will pay approximately ~$70 per attendee; those attending on a complimentary basis (accepted law students and those approved for scholarship) will still incur a $1 processing fee. Please RSVP when you register for the conference.  

Update 7/31: Our 2024 Affinity Dinners are now at capacity and all accepted registrants have been notified. Please email programs@lgbtqbar.org with any questions, however, no additional slots will be available. 

Location: Potomac Registration Desk

Location: Meeting Room 6

Location: Potomac Foyer

Location: Meeting Room 1

Our Parents' Room is a private space for parents/caregivers to be able to attend to their child's immediate needs including feeding and changing.  Please note: the Parents' Room is not a childcare service or playroom.

Location: Meeting Room 7

Our Open Workspace is a room to make a quick call, attend a virtual meeting, catch up on emails, and general work follow up while attending our conference. This room is for active work activities, and may not be quiet or have privacy as there will likely be other attendees using the room. Although you are permitted to speak on your phone and attend a virtual meeting, we request noise to be kept at a minimum and to use headphones whenever possible. Please use this room solely for work, rather than socializing, listening to music, or streaming videos.  

Location: Meeting Room 6

Our Quiet Room is a relaxing space to take a brief break from busy conference activities. Please refrain from in-person or phone conversations and music/videos on your mobile devices in order to keep the room truly quiet and a spot for a peaceful escape from the bustling conference energy. 

Location: River Birch A

The Finance Law Institute is a space for the leading legal minds involved with finance 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. A portion of the Finance Law Institute will offer CLE credit. The Finance Law Institute is open to all, including law students.

**View the agenda and register for the Finance Law Institute**

Location: River Birch B

**View the agenda and register for the Intellectual Property Law Institute (IP)**

Location: Anacostia F

What does “leadership” mean for today’s LGBTQ+ legal professionals? Whether you are an advocate in the LGBTQ+ community, a firm attorney, in-house, or somewhere in-between, we are all called to lead in unique ways and set an example for others. Many of us lead through legal careers, but where does our legal leadership diverge from our individual/personal leadership? During this workshop, a panel of diverse practitioners will explore how they lead and what leadership really means to them. Walk away with perspective and actionable tips on how to be an active leader no matter what your job title or practice area is.

Not for CLE credit. 

Location: Meeting Rooms 12, 13, & 14

This panel will discuss binegativity, discrimination, and how differences in protections in the practice and profession of law affect bi+ individuals in ways not necessarily experienced by their LGTQI+ counterparts. Panelists will talk about bisexuality in the workplace and how employers can meet the needs of bi+ employees working in the legal field. It will also address ways to better represent the interests of bi+ clients during court proceedings and through more informed client interactions.

Location: Anacostia D

Join us for an engaging CLE session featuring a distinguished panel of experts who bring a wealth of experience from various sectors of the legal world. Our panelists will delve into the intricacies of fiduciary responsibilities, highlighting the legal obligations of officers and directors to act in the best interest of their organization and its stakeholders. They will explore real-world scenarios, offering practical strategies for navigating conflicts of interest, ensuring transparency, and fostering a culture of inclusion and ethical compliance. Key Discussion Points: Understanding Fiduciary Duties: A discussion of the legal obligations of organizational leaders and officers, including the duty of care, the duty of loyalty, and the duty of good faith, and leveraging diversity in organizational governance. Ethical Considerations in Decision-Making: Strategies for senior legal officers to promote ethical and inclusive behavior within the organization, address ethical dilemmas, issues of equity in the workplace, and mitigate potential legal and reputational risks. Practical and Pragmatic Lessons Learned: The panel will share their experience and lessons learned in how they navigated fiduciary and ethical issues within their organizations and fostered inclusiveness in organizational decision-making. Who Should Attend: This CLE session is ideal for senior legal executives, compliance officers, board members, and other legal professionals involved in governance and compliance in both the private and public sector. Whether you are looking to update your knowledge on current best practices or seeking practical advice on fulfilling your fiduciary duties, this panel discussion will provide valuable insights and actionable solutions.

Location: Rock Creek B

On June 29, 2023, the United States Supreme Court upended established equal protection law with its decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina (“SFFA”), effectively eliminating the use of affirmative action in college admissions. Specifically, the Court held that Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by impermissibly using race-conscious admissions processes. The legal community has seen the impacts of the Court’s ruling on the diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) programs of several prominent law firms. Since SFFA, conservative interest groups have filed a number of lawsuits against law firms, venture funds, and companies attacking the lawfulness of their diversity fellowships or other DEI initiatives under the affirmative action framework set forth in SFFA. The mounting scrutiny is leading some firms and businesses to retool their practices dedicated to making employment-focused DEI programs safe from litigation and negative publicity. This panel aims to delve into the complexities surrounding the DEI backlash, what organizations can learn from the situation to navigate legal repercussions in the workplace, and how organizations can implement prophylactic strategies to continue their commitment to the goals of DEI while also mitigating risk.

Location: Rock Creek C

Litigating against the federal government is fraught with potential pitfalls, with unique jurisdictional, political, and strategic considerations. Litigators from the teams suing the Veterans Administration and the Department of Defense over trans healthcare exclusions and the rights of LGBTQ+ veterans discharged under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell to have their discharge paperwork corrected on a class-wide basis share their thought processes behind suing an ostensibly sympathetic presidential administration and the lessons learned as they advocate on behalf of their clients.

Location: Meeting Rooms 10 & 11

Hate crimes against LGBTQ people, especially trans women of color, but also against Asians, Jews, Muslims, and African Americans have soared. The FBI reported that hate crimes in the United States have increased by 17%. Canadian police reported 3,360 criminal incidents that were motivated by hate in 2021, an increase of 27% from the previous year. Both are the highest numbers in more than a decade. Join us for an update on the current state of hate crimes in the United States and Canada, a review of the Matthew Sheppard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act of 2009, and how you can be an ally by documenting and reporting incidents of bias-related harassment and hate crimes against people of any background.

Location: Potomac III

The panel will analyze the decisions the U.S. Supreme Court issued during its 2023-24 term that are likely to be of greatest interest to those attending Lavender Law (especially cases involving LGBTQ+ and other civil rights issues), provide insights on trends in the Court's developing jurisprudence, and examine the issues presented by the most important cases in which the Supreme Court has accepted cert. for its 2024-25 term.

Location: Rock Creek A

Navigating law firm expectations and culture presents unique challenges and experiences for transgender and nonbinary lawyers and legal professionals, like bathroom access, pronoun and honorific use, and healthcare options. These experiences are complicated by intersections with race, ethnicity, nationality, gender expression/transmisogyny, mental health, class, etc. Building off the collaborative synergy from the National LGBTQ+ Bar’s Trans in Big Law peer mentoring group, this panel of diverse transgender and nonbinary lawyers will explore strategies to navigate workplace challenges. The panel will include attorneys who were openly transgender prior to entering their law firm and those who came out after they started work. The conversation will center the voices of transgender and nonbinary individuals, and allies are welcome to listen in on the conversation.

Location: Anacostia E

Trauma and other mental health issues often create challenges for attorneys in providing representation to LGBTQ+ immigrants and vulnerable communities in general. To be able to provide effective, zealous representation for clients who have experienced trauma, it is essential to first understand what trauma is and what it means to have a trauma-informed practice. This workshop will provide attorneys with a fundamental explanation of the framework of trauma and the experiences that can create it. This can include systematic barriers that prevent meaningful access to services, including employment, housing, legal services, medical care, and other social services. We will discuss why having a trauma-informed practice matters in various areas of law, including how representation can ensure that vulnerable communities are afforded due process, and will provide guidance on how to create safe spaces and establish trust with clients. Finally, we will share opportunities for attendees to get involved with serving vulnerable communities, including through volunteer work and pro bono partnerships.

Location: Meeting Room 16

For decades, there was an abysmal lack of diversity in the selection of arbitrators and mediators in ADR proceedings. In recent years, happily, there have been numerous initiatives put forward to remedy this situation, with tangible progress being made and renewed hope that the situation will continue to improve. Join our panel of experienced ADR professionals to learn more about the precise nature of this long-term problem afflicting the ADR field, why it matters, and what steps have taken place – and are anticipated to take place – to address this issue going forward. Legal professionals considering entering an ADR practice are encouraged to attend to learn more about how to be part of the solution!

Location: TBA

Location: Meeting Rooms 12, 13, & 14

BiLaw is an informal group of bisexual-identified and bi-allied attorneys, academics, and law students. The BiLaw Caucus is an opportunity to network with other bi-identified lawyers and discuss areas of the law relevant to bisexual people. All bi-identified and bi-allied attorneys, academics, and law students are encouraged to attend. Following a brief meet-and-greet, the organizers will provide a structured discussion based on attendees’ priorities.

Not for CLE credit.

Location: Anacostia D

When Batson v. Kentucky came down almost 40 years ago, it promised a fairer and more equitable jury selection process. But in a concurring opinion, Justice Thurgood Marshall wrote that it did not go far enough. History has shown Justice Marshall to be right – rarely are Batson challenges sustained in court or on appeal. This workshop will discuss how some states – such as Washington and California – have reformed their rules to give Batson teeth, while one state – Arizona – has attempted to fulfill the promise of Batson by doing exactly what Justice Marshall proposed – eliminating peremptory challenges entirely.

Location: Rock Creek A

In this workshop, a panel of LGBTQ+ Latine lawyers will discuss how language (English, Spanish, Spanglish, legalese, LGBTQ+ terminology, pronouns, etc.) plays a role in not only how we define ourselves, but also guides our advocacy on behalf of Latine and LGBTQ+ clients and communities.

Location: Rock Creek B

This workshop will explore the national conversation on LGBTQ+ rights in education, its impacts on students and LGBTQ+ community members, and how different state legislatures across the country are responding. The workshop will cover the historical and cultural backdrop of this dangerous moment, examine the origins and evolving patterns of anti-LGBTQ+ laws and school board measures, and finally compare and contrast relevant legislation in various states. Topics included in the workshop will include book bans, cultural competency training, inclusive restrooms and facilities policies, name/gender affirmation, forced outing protections, and more.

Location: Meeting Rooms 10 & 11

LGBTQ+ older people can often be an invisible population. Many face additional and unique barriers as they age, especially at the intersections of their LGBTQ+ identity, age, and other possible marginalized identities. But there are advocates working across law and policy to make sure that we look out for the people who fought for many of the rights we take for granted today. We will share what’s going on at the federal policy level with a focus on the Older Americans Act (OAA) and its reauthorization. We will cover the OAA’s first regulatory changes since 1988 and the how these changes specifically impact LGBTQ+ older people and older people living with HIV. We will also cover state multisector plans for aging, the federal Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging & Age-Friendly Communities, the effort to pass State and Federal Long-Term Care Bills of Rights, hot issues for LGBTQ+ older adults enrolled in Medicare, and how legal services practitioners and litigators are using the laws currently at their disposal to advance the rights of the Stonewall generation.

Location: Meeting Room 16

In 2023, the U.S. saw a surge of activity by organized labor in the form of strikes and organizing efforts, in what some dubbed “Hot Labor Summer.” Of particular note, both the collective Starbucks Workers United and Grindr United, in working to organize workers, made LGBTQIA+ issues a visible and central part of their organizing. This panel will discuss the historical connections between organized labor and LGBTQ+ rights, and provide guidance on how protections for LGBTQ+ employees can be included and enforced in collective bargaining agreements. The panel will also discuss whether and how building stronger ties between organized labor and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups can work to more broadly protect the rights of LGBTQ+ workers, and what implications that might have for LGBTQ+ advocacy groups’ relations with national and multinational companies, many of which are on the other side of the bargaining table with unions.

Location: Anacostia E

This diverse panel will discuss tips and strategies to thrive in a hybrid law firm environment, including:

1. Balancing the flexibility of remote work with the benefits of in-office work
2. Training and mentorship
3. Developing relationships with colleagues and clients
4. Making the most of affinity and similar groups
5. Taking on impactful work: pro bono and volunteer activities
6. Setting career goals
7. Balancing work and life and managing stress

Not for CLE credit. 

Location: Rock Creek C

The January 6th insurrection was not only an attack on our seat of government, but was also a vivid illustration of democracy's vulnerability and the deep divisions within our society. As authoritarian leaders continue to rise at home with influential figures trying to overturn elections, ignore court orders, and silence dissidents through violence and fear, the financial, political, and organizational forces that are fueling their rise are also fueling attacks against marginalized communities, including against queer and trans individuals. This includes online forums like The Donald which is rife with anti-LGBTQ content and groups like the Proud Boys who, in the wake of their leaders being convicted of seditious conspiracy for their role during the January 6th attack on the Capitol, are embracing a new case: anti-LGBTQ activism. As the Department of Justice and state prosecutors continue to prosecute individuals for their role in the January 6th attack, this panel will discuss the threats facing our democracy, what legal and advocacy tools we can use to respond to those threats, and how accountability and protecting the rights of LGBTQI+ individuals can, and should, be pursued hand in hand.

Location: Anacostia F

Data is power. For years, LGBTQ+ advocates have worked to ensure that legally mandated government collections of data collect information on individuals’ sexual orientation and gender identity, in the hopes that details on our experiences and disparities when compared to non-LGBTQ+ people can be used to support programs and services for our specific needs. But at the same time, government and other actors have sought to weaponize the power that data holds, hoping to use government data collections to monitor and even criminalize LGBTQ+ communities. This workshop will explore the history of government actors in the U.S. collecting data from LGBTQ+ people, with an emphasis on contrasting efforts to prosecute people living with HIV using data to similar recent efforts targeting transgender and other gender-diverse people seeking gender-affirming care. Additionally, this workshop aims to educate listeners about ongoing efforts to ensure laws and policies mandating government data collection from LGBTQ+ people include provisions ensuring collections occur safely and responsibly, including within the health care space and through a recently proposed test by the U.S. Census Bureau. Panelists will highlight the ways that lawyers and advocates have harnessed data from LGBTQ+ people in the courtroom, in legislative hearings, and by engaging with agency rulemakings to both harm and support us. Additionally, they will highlight principles stemming from the data privacy field, as well as social scientists and LGBTQ+ researchers, that inform our knowledge on how to create laws and policies that will respect the privacy and safety of LGBTQ+ respondents. As regulations and even bills targeting LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized communities move across the states with specific mandates requiring data collection, this workshop seeks to empower listeners to understand the role that data plays in our lives and be able to fight those that pose a threat to LGBTQ+ people, while also allowing them to support positive efforts to support and protect our communities using data.

Location: TBA

Location: Potomac I, II, III; Rock Creek A (Overflow)

Join us for the presentation of our 2024 40 Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40 Awards and Dan Bradley Award!

Location: TBA

Location: Anacostia F

Finding your path and developing your career is challenging for every lawyer. For those with disabilities, visible or invisible, the challenges can be even greater. So can the rewards - for the lawyers who have spent their entire lives solving problems, their firms, colleagues, and clients. Join employment lawyers, diversity and disability advocates, disabled lawyers, and representatives of law firms, nonprofits, and corporate law departments for an important conversation designed to unravel the mystery. We will discuss strategies for both lawyers with disabilities and their firms or companies seeking to ensure their success, including advocacy, accommodations, and inclusivity.

Location: Meeting Rooms 10 & 11

All representatives of LGBTQ+ state and local Bar Association affiliate groups are invited to attend this annual caucus meeting.

Not for CLE credit.

Location: Anacostia E

As LGBTQ+ advocates, we often face difficult conversations in both our roles as lawyers and as individuals advocating for equality and justice in a world that sees us as outsiders. In this workshop, our panel of experts will offer practical tips for working through anxiety, deescalating conflict, maintaining our true voice, and having impactful conversations that open the door to meaningful and lasting change.

Location: Meeting Room 16

This panel discussion will explore the law and policy intersections where intersex people, and their rights, exist. In the wake of Bostock, people with sex trait variations are increasingly understood to be protected from discrimination on the basis of their sex characteristics - and yet, intersex people have been and remain directly affected by anti-trans backlash, policing of Black and Brown bodies, and intrusions into reproductive autonomy. In this session, panelists will provide an update on the current legal status of intersex people in the United States, and examine how intersex rights and experiences can deeply intersect with legal and social constructs of race, gender, bodily autonomy, and more. Panelists will also discuss current legal and policy strategies that address or impact the rights of intersex people across all of these intersections.

Location: Meeting Room 4

The emergence of treatment courts across the country has become a transformational opportunity to better understand and accommodate the needs of the community while balancing the need for public safety. By ensuring individuals involved in the criminal justice system receive necessary help and services that they need, these innovative models have proven to be very effective with many populations, including the LGBTQ+ community. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, alongside the Center for Justice Innovation and other organizations, have been able to adapt and balance those needs, specifically to adhere to the needs of LGBTQ+ participants involved in the criminal justice system. Join our panelists in discussing the evolution of Manhattan treatment courts and the work of our community providers alongside Christian Ledan (he/him/his), a graduate of Manhattan Mental Health Court, who will be joining us to discuss his experience as an LGBTQ+ person previously engaged in a treatment court.

Location: Rock Creek C

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in 303 Creative v. Elenis, holding that a website designer had a free-speech right to refuse to create a website for the wedding of a same-sex couple because that service is expressive, significant questions remain as to the interaction between LGBTQ+-inclusive public-accommodations laws and businessowners asserting First Amendment exemptions thereto. Which services count as sufficiently expressive under 303 Creative’s rule? What role does businessowners’ free exercise of religion still have to play? Will businessowners’ discriminatory free-association claims now be taken more seriously? And finally, will courts allow conservative advocates to resurrect the oft-maligned “hybrid-rights” argument hypothesized in Employment Division v. Smith to combine any or all of these First Amendment claims? Panelists will discuss each of these questions in the context of several cases currently pending, including Scardina v. Masterpiece Cakeshop in the Colorado Supreme Court. Attendees will be invited to propose and engage with hypotheticals that challenge our current understanding of the law and its limits for addressing discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in public accommodations.

Location: Meeting Rooms 12, 13, & 14

"This job really isn't what I expected it to be." While more and more diverse individuals are graduating from law school, the percentage that make it past junior associate is not keeping up. One of the many reasons? They had no real idea what career they were really getting into--in part, because nobody told them. Attorneys from marginalized communities are more likely than their peers to be the first lawyer in their family or community circle, without the examples or support system that knows the real struggle starting out in this field can be. Here, law students and junior associates will have an opportunity to ask their real questions--and get real answers--on what a BigLaw, nonprofit, or in-house is really like, and the tips on how to hold on those first few years. While the discussion will be frank and some of the reality may be grim, participants will leave fortified with the tools they need to start their careers off strong.

Not for CLE credit. 

Location: Rock Creek B

Some places pass ordinances and laws openly seeking protection of LGBTQ+ folks and other non-conforming humans, while other jurisdictions are unmoved by or actively hostile to this type of advocacy. We won’t just abandon the folks in those hostile territories, though. We must look for ways to advocate for the *benefit* of our marginalized identities, even if we cannot do so openly. We must look for alternative ways to “sell” the laws and policies that improve day-to-day living for LGBTQ+ folks and others when we can’t realistically tackle these issues head-on. Laws and policies on housing, healthcare, parenting (and allo-parenting), eldercare, guardianship, de-criminalized relationships, and interpersonal contracts all offer opportunities for changes that benefit the most vulnerable. Let’s explore historic precedents for subversive change, brainstorm new solutions, and plan ways to avoid unintended consequences.

Location: Rock Creek A

Thousands of transgender, gender non-conforming, intersex and non-binary people are incarcerated in jails and prisons across the country. They face unique challenges and disproportionate abuse while they are incarcerated. Extensive published studies on conditions of confinement for incarcerated transgender people confirm that this population is one of, if not the most, vulnerable population of incarcerated people. Surveys repeatedly show overwhelming experiences of sexual assault, violence, and harassment against incarcerated transgender people because of one’s perceived or actual gender identity or sexual orientation. Our own data and client anecdotes confirm this. Virtually all of our incarcerated transgender clients housed in facilities not aligned with their gender identity have experienced some form of sexual assault, violence, or harassment based on their gender identity or expression. This panel will focus on those unique challenges, and provide best practice tips for practitioners directly representing incarcerated Gender-Expansive people. We will explore the various strategic approaches to reform, such as direct services, legislative and regulatory advocacy, media campaigns, story-telling, cultural competency training, and impact litigation.

Location: Anacostia D

Panelists present a toolkit for attorneys and advocates to obtain, preserve, and improve name change and ID correction processes. The presenters will share how they implemented different advocacy tactics in their respective jurisdictions – such as litigation, legislative advocacy, coalition work, informal advocacy, and community empowerment – to successfully secure the rights of trans and nonbinary people and prevent erasure. As we celebrate these wins, we also address ongoing attacks on name change and ID document update processes. Panelists will share tools to prevent rollbacks on ID policies in hostile jurisdictions by: examining the definition of sex bill in Kansas that blocked ID updates and the community’s response, dissecting the Florida rollback memo and offering creative interpretations to preserve ID access, describing the attempts to instill fear in trans people in Texas, and sharing other resourceful strategies on how to approach courts and agencies in at-risk states.

Location: River Birch A

2024 ELI Leaders: 
Emily Miller (Seyfarth Shaw)
Sam Schwartz-Fenwick (Seyfarth Shaw)
Rachel See (Seyfarth Shaw)

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. The Employment Law Institute is not open to law students.  A portion of ELI will offer CLE credit.

**View the agenda and register for the Employment Law Institute (ELI)**

Location: River Birch B

2024 Tech-Telecom Leaders:  
Praju Tuladhar (Remitly)
Julie Rooney (OpenX)

In the Tech/Telecom Institute, we plan to address cutting edge issues relating to the Tech and Telecom industries. CLE credit will be offered for a portion of the Institute. The Tech/Telecom Institute is open to all, including law students.

**View the agenda and register for the Tech-Telecom Institute (TTI)**

Location: TBA

Location: Meeting Room 16

In the fast-paced and competitive legal landscape, the question “What have you done for me lately?" is frequently on the minds of clients and colleagues alike. In such an environment, the ability to effectively market yourself and clearly articulate the value you bring to the table is not merely beneficial—it is essential for success. Our panel includes in-house counsel, partners from private practices, and experienced legal marketing professionals, all ready to share their valuable insights. They will explore proven marketing and client development strategies that have enabled them to consistently deliver value to both internal and external clients. This conversation is helpful for lawyers at all levels—from those just starting out to seasoned veterans, and across settings from private practices to in-house legal departments.

Not for CLE credit. 

Location: Anacostia E

LGBTQ+ employee resource groups, affinity groups, diversity councils, and other internal organizations (collectively, ERGs) have been a game-changer for law firms and companies addressing LGBTQ+ issues and fostering an inclusive workplace that supports LGBTQ+ employees.  ERG leaders face a variety of challenges when furthering the needle on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).  This diverse panel of ERG leaders will discuss how they have risen to the occasion and overcome obstacles to create opportunities to advance DEI on behalf of our LGBTQ+ community.  Our panelists will share their experiences regarding how they have tackled some of the most challenging issues they have overcome when making institutional change.  The panel will address (1) how to create effective ERGs; (2) best practices for ERGs to uplift underrepresented parts of our LGBTQ+ community; (3) how ERGs can support and champion intersectionality among diverse affinity groups and people; (4) challenges ERGs have already experienced and potential obstacles on the horizon; (5) effective strategies ERGs can employ to increase exposure to key stakeholders at work; (6) how ERGS can successfully advocate for policies that protect and support LGBTQ+ employees; and (7) best practices for ERGs to leverage partnerships and relationships with LGBTQ+ community organizations and law schools to maximize the impact ERGs can have within their organizations.  Please join us, and bring your questions you want answered and experiences you want to share!

Not for CLE credit. 

Location: Rock Creek A

This workshop will provide an update on the latest developments of the criminal and civil laws and corporate policies that contribute to the economic and social marginalization of LGBTQ+ sex workers, with a focus on transgender individuals, LGBTQ+ people of color, and LGBTQ+ homeless youth. While LGBTQ+ communities are disproportionately impacted by the criminalization of sex work, we are also at the center of efforts to decriminalize and destigmatize sex work in all its forms. The workshop will provide an update on changes in state and local jurisdictions that impact the health of LGBTQ+ sex workers, and the federal laws and policies that implicate access to internet-based sex work and organizing tools often used by sex workers to build safety. The expert panel will explore how federal and state criminal laws impact policies and practices in corporations that limit access to legal forms of sex work, and ultimately deprive LGBTQ+ of their right to participate in the economic and social life of their communities. The panel will discuss state and federal advocacy and organizing efforts for and by sex workers. This includes challenging harmful legislation that proposes to regulate internet content, legislation that increases the policing and marginalization of sex workers, and examples of successful organizing that supports innovative reform efforts. The panel includes advocates from Washington, DC, Chicago, Illinois, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Intersectional policy work related to sex work, HIV, and LGBTQ+ issues is needed and must address laws that criminalize LGBTQ+ bodies, include the criminalization of gender-affirming care, criminalization of HIV, and criminalization of pregnancy.

Location: Anacostia F

Our Disability Caucus is for all Lavender Law attendees who identify as a person with a disability or a disabled person. We define 'disability' expansively to include apparent and hidden disabilities, and recognize madness, chronic illness, neurodivergence, disfigurement, mental health conditions/mental illnesses, and intermittent/episodic conditions within the realm of disability, whether you have a professional diagnosis or self-diagnosis, and whether you were born with or acquired a disability. Please note: this is not a workshop to discuss disability law.

Not for CLE credit. 

Location: Rock Creek C

What does a Supreme Court case about fishing regulations have to do with LGBTQI rights? Quite a bit, in fact. Government agencies radically impact the lives of our communities: issuing marriage licenses and driver’s licenses, regulating healthcare for people living with HIV, overseeing homelessness and immigration policy, ensuring access to food and gender-affirming care, and enforcing nondiscrimination laws. For decades, federal and state agencies were given wide latitude to administer these programs, with a wide range of consequences for LGBTQI people. However, as reflected most recently in the Loper Bright case, the Supreme Court has charted a course away from this fundamental component of functioning government. Join us as we discuss the present state of administrative law, key developments most relevant to LGBTQI communities, and effective strategies at the federal, state and local agency level to leverage positive outcomes for LGBTQI people.

Location: Meeting Rooms 12, 13, & 14

Drag is a form of art and expression with roots dating back millennia. It is a source of joy and liberation for many LGBTQ+ people and is especially significant for Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian queer and trans communities. Multiple states have tried to restrict or ban drag performances in the last two years, but their efforts have been resoundingly blocked by federal courts across the country. This workshop explores the recent rise of drag bans; how these laws seek to undermine free expression and diminish the rights of transgender, non-binary, Two Spirit, and gender diverse people; and how drag artists, advocates, and litigators have successfully blocked these laws in Tennessee, Florida, Montana, Texas, and other states.

Location: Rock Creek B

Interpretive methods that privilege text and history in understanding constitutional provisions (such as originalism) have long been associated—at least in the public’s mind—with conservatives. But questioning by the more progressive justices at oral argument in several high-profile cases, including recent affirmative action (SFFA v. Harvard/UNC), voting rights (Allen v. Milligan), license to discriminate (303 Creative v. Elenis), and gun violence prevention cases (United States v. Rahimi) demonstrates that use of these methodologies is not cabined to the Court’s conservative supermajority. How can text and history be used to protect civil and human rights for political minorities, including members of the LGBTQ+ community? What is the proper use of history to illuminate constitutional meaning? How do progressive advocates use history from prior eras without reinforcing prior societal inequities? And what role, if any, can historical materials appropriately play in understanding statutory provisions?

Location: Meeting Room 4

All Spanish-speaking attorneys and attorneys serving Spanish-speaking clients are welcome for this collaborative session.

Not for CLE credit.

Location: Anacostia D

We are in a time of unrelenting attacks on all forms of health care that implicate gender. Since Dobbs, many states have implemented strict abortion laws, some of which threaten the lives and health of their pregnant residents. And the notion of embryonic and fetal personhood contained implicitly or explicitly in these laws is now threatening assisted reproduction techniques such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), a critical means of queer family building. Meanwhile, attacks on transgender health care persist unabated except for a few remaining injunctions won through litigation.

In this panel we will discuss these varied but related attacks on access to health care, their common ideological and legal grounding, and the current state of play, including the Supreme Court decisions in AHM v. FDA (the Mifepristone case) and Idaho v. US (the EMTALA-abortion case). We will also discuss efforts to meet and defeat these threats through state and federal legislation (such as state shield laws and federal bills creating a right to abortion, contraception and assisted reproduction), litigation and legal defense, and federal regulations (including the new ACA 1557 and HIPAA privacy rules). And while there is much that is similar in the attacks on reproductive and transgender health care, there are differences as well. To fight back effectively, we must think carefully and strategically about when and how to link the two in legal and policy work. Finally, we will elucidate how our opponents’ attacks on health care and even basic legal recognition for transgender people (e.g. through sex definition laws) threaten to undermine core precepts of decades of sex equality jurisprudence. 

Location: Foyer

Location: Shakers (2014 9th St NW, Washington, DC, 20001)

The District of Columbia LGBTQ+ Bar Association invites you to close out another successful Lavender Law® Conference with a lively reception at Shakers. There will be complimentary drinks, food, and a live DJ to celebrate all the amazing LGBTQ+ attorneys that have gathered in the nation’s capital for Lavender Law®. We are expecting registrations to fill up quickly, so RSVP today!