Legal Lgbt Podcast

Eric Lesh, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar of NY and Professor Art Leonard of New York Law School, discuss three important LGBT rights cases from July. Gay Church Music Director Can Pursue Damages for Hostile Work Environment Inflicted by Supervising Priest Bostock Extended to Title IX Allowing Transgender Students Access to Bathrooms Matching Gender Identity Trump Regulation Revoking Health Care Protections for Transgender People Blocked  

Eric Lesh, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar of NY and Professor Art Leonard of New York Law School, discuss three important LGBT rights cases from July. Supreme Court Broadens “Ministerial Exception” to Anti-Discrimination Laws, Leaving Many LGBTQ Employees of Religious Schools Without Title VII Protection 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals Revives Religious Adoption Agency’s Challenge to New York Anti-Discrimination Rule Roundup of Recent LGBT+ Asylum Cases

Eric Lesh, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar of NY and Professor Art Leonard of New York Law School, discuss the major Supreme Court cases of the 2019-2020 Term that will have a significant impact on the rights and lives of LGBTQ people.

"LGBT Impact Litigation and SCOTUS" features a lively discussion between legal eagles Kate Kendell, former Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Ria Tabacco Mar, Women's Project Director, ACLU, followed by audience Q&A. This event is hosted by LeGaL’s Women’s Group and moderated by Cody Yorke of Outten & Golden.   This virtual lunch-and-learn is the third installment in the LeGaL Pride Power Lunch Series, held every Wednesday in June from 1-2 p.m. The events are free, but please consider making a donation in support of the LeGaL Foundation here. 

Eric Lesh, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar of NY and Professor Art Leonard of New York Law School, discuss three important LGBT rights cases from May. 10th Circuit Orders State Department to Reconsider Denial of Accurate Passport to Intersex Plaintiff Two Federal District Courts Rule on Social Security Survivor Benefits for Same-Sex Spouses Whose Marriages Occurred Fewer Than Nine Months Before the Death of Their Spouse Lesbian Couple’s Challenge to South Carolina Foster Care Policy Survives Motion to Dismiss

Eric Lesh, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar Association of New York, speaks with LeGaL President Kristen Browde and Professor Arthur Leonard about the Supreme Court decision that marks a watershed moment for LGBTQ fairness and equality.   In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that companies don’t have a right to discriminate against LGBTQ people in the workplace! This historic decision says that LGBTQ people are, and should be, protected from discrimination under federal law.

On today's episode of the LeGaL LGBT Podcast, we focus on the B in LGBT. As part of LeGaL's Pride Power Lunch series, we speak with Nancy Marcus, Sarah Filcher, & William Crosby about issues of bi visibility and inclusion in the law and legal profession.

Eric Lesh, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar of NY and Professor Art Leonard of New York Law School, discuss three important LGBT rights cases from May. Massachusetts SJC Rules Probate Court Has Jurisdiction Over Complex Gestational Surrogacy Petition Transgender Man in the U.K. Cannot Be Listed as Farther on Child’s Birth Certificate Magistrate Judge Rejects Transgender Plaintiff’s Motion to Proceed Anonymously Federal Judge Issues Nationwide Injunction to Screen ICE Detainees at High Risk for COVID-19

Eric Lesh, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar of NY and Professor Art Leonard of New York Law School, discuss three important LGBT rights cases from April. 1. Appellate Victory for Gay Man from Ghana Seeking Asylum in the US 2. New York Appeals Court Refuses to Extend Important LGBT Family Rights to Tri-Custodial Arrangements 3. Alaska and North Carolina Victories for Access to Transition-Related Health Care 

On this episode of the LeGaL LGBT Podcast, Eric Lesh chats with members of the legal profession about how COVID-19 is affecting their lives and work. Joining us: Victor Tarantino, 2L, Hofstra Law School Daniel Sinasohn, former associate, Camacho Mauro Mulholland, LLP  Sarah Filcher, Staff Attorney, Legal Services Hudson Valley Meredith Miller, Professor of Law, Touro Law School.

Eric Lesh, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar of NY and Professor Art Leonard of New York Law School, discuss three important LGBT rights cases from February. Supreme Court Agrees to Review Catholic Foster Care Agency’s Claimed Right to Discriminate against Same-Sex Couples Ninth Circuit Denies En Banc Rehearing in Idaho Inmate’s Gender Confirmation Surgery Case; Circuit Split Possible; Many Judges Dissent Ninth Circuit Panel Affirms Ruling Rejecting Challenge to School District’s Policy of Allowing Transgender Students to Use Facilities Consistent with their Gender Identity California Court Denies Release or Transfer of Transgender Woman in ICE Custody Seeking Medical Treatment and a Bond Hearing

Eric Lesh, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar of NY and Professor Art Leonard of New York Law School, discuss three important LGBT rights cases from January. 1. Fourth Circuit Affirms Injunction against Department of Defense Declaring Policy that Discharges HIV+ Servicemembers as Arbitrary and Capricious and Based on Outdated Science 2. Fifth Circuit Issues Hostile Opinion on Transgender Prisoner’s Name Change, Drawing “Emphatic” Dissent 3. Texas Court of Appeals Affirms Divorce Decree Requiring Lesbian Co-Parent to Pay Child Support

On February 24, the U.S. Supreme Court  agreed to hear Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, The Supreme Court will decide whether Philadelphia violated the First Amendment when it stopped referring  children in the foster care system to agencies that refuse to work with same-sex couples on religious grounds.

Eric Lesh, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar of NY and Professor Art Leonard of New York Law School, discuss three important LGBT rights cases from December: 1. Supreme Court Denies Trans Inmate’s Petition in Transition Denial Case 2. New York Appellate Division Affirms Ruling Reuniting Child With Second Parent After a Significant Lapse of Time 3. Arizona District Court Treats State Health Provider’s Exclusion of Gender Reassignment Surgery as a Violation of Title VII and Leaves Open Plaintiff’s Equal Protection Claim

January 22 marks the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Roe v Wade. The holding in Roe and fight for reproductive justice are centered on the ability of all people to have freedom of self determination over their own body, health, and destiny. These are the same values at the heart of LGBT peoples fight for equal dignity. Eric Lesh, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar of NY talks with Scott Ruskay-Kidd of the Center for Reproductive Rights about the ways in which the legal battle for reproductive justice and LGBT rights are linked.

On the Law Notes Episode of the LeGaL LGBT Podcast, Eric Lesh, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar of NY and Professor Art Leonard of New York Law School, discuss three important LGBT rights cases from November: 1. Illinois Federal Judge Remands Board of Immigration Appeals' Decision Involving the Denial of a Married Same-Sex Couple's I-130 Petition. 2. Christian School's Suit to Remain in Maryland's Scholarship Program Survives Motion to Dismiss 3. Art Teache's Lawsuit Against Texas Public School Survives Dismissal Motion

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance (“TDOR”). It is a day to honor the memory of those members of our community whose lives have been lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. On this episode, LeGaL's Executive Director, Eric Lesh, and Board President, Kristen Browde discuss TDOR 2019. At LeGaL, we remember the primarily trans women of color lost to transphobic bigotry and violence. This year’s TDOR comes in the wake of reports that at least 22 people were lost to deadly attacks in 2019. Ending the crisis of violence against transgender people demands action across our entire community. Of the 1.4 million transgender people living in the U.S., 9% reported being physically attacked in the past year because of their identity. And this epidemic is on the rise. Between 2017 and 2018, reported incidents of anti-trans violence rose by 34%. LeGaL has been fighting to protect the most vulnerable members of our community from discrimination for over four decades. Today, we rededicate ourselves to continuing

Eric Lesh, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar of NY and Professor Art Leonard of New York Law School, discuss three important LGBT rights cases from October: 1. Texas Federal Court Vacates Transgender Protection under Obamacare. 2. Mississippi Supreme Court Unanimously Affirms Award of Custody of a Child to His Gay Uncle’s Surviving Husband. 3. Kentucky Supreme Court Avoids Ruling on Clash between Free Speech and Anti-Discrimination Law in T-Shirt Case.    

  Eric Lesh, Executive Director of the LGBT Bar of NY and Professor Art Leonard of New York Law School, discuss three important LGBT rights cases from September: Last week the Justices heard oral argument in three cases that could completely alter the legal landscape for LGBT workers across the US. Before the justices is the question: Does Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbid discrimination in employment because of an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity? We have a two rulings to discuss dealing with access to information in the ongoing challenges to Trump’s hateful trans military ban. While courts are limiting the scope of discovery they are rejecting the government's broad assertion of privilege. Michigan's new democratic governor implemented a policy that required faith-based organizations that provided adoption services using state funding to serve same-sex couples. A federal judge just put blocked it for now. Finally, anti-LGBT hate groups are challenging conversion

Eric Lesh, Executive Director of The LGBT Bar Association of New York, speaks with Lambda Legal Senior Attorney and LeGaL Board Member, Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, about what happened at SCOTUS during oral argument in the LGBT workplace fairness cases.