Transcendence: Legal Efforts to Protect and Advance LGBTQIA+ Youth Rights

Welcome to The Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law's 2025 Biennial Symposium on Gender and Sexuality Law!

Sponsored by The Gender+ Justice Initiative

Join us at Georgetown University Law Center, Gewirz 12 for this timely and urgent event focusing on current attacks on LGBTQIA+ youth rights within the legal landscape. This symposium brings together leading scholars, practitioners, and activists to discuss the latest developments in and challenges to LGBTQIA+ youth rights.

This event will include panel discussions, a keynote speech delivered by independent LGBTQ+ journalist Erin Reed, and networking opportunities. A free buffet lunch will be provided as well as a post-event happy hour with beer, wine, and light snacks.

Whether you are a law student, attorney, or are just passionate about protecting LGBTQIA+ youth rights, this event will offer valuable insights and connections. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn about one of the most significant civil rights issues of our time and support student-led scholarship.

9 AM - 9:10 AM: Opening Remarks

9:10 AM - 10:20 AM: Panel 1: Attacks on Gender-Affirming Care: What to Expect from United States v. Skrmetti

Moderated by Harper Seldin (he/him), Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU LGBTQ & HIV Project

Speakers:

• Avatara Smith-Carrington (they/them), Assistant Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense Fund
• Jona Tanguay (they/them), President, GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality
• Kristen Loveland (she/her), Counsel, Akin Gump

10:30 AM - 11:40 AM: Panel 2: Future Hot Topics in LGBTQIA+ Youth Rights

Moderated by Professor Allegra McLeod (she/her), Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center

Speakers:

• Victoria Kirby York (she/they), Director of Public Policy And Programs, National Black Justice Collective
• Daniel Mach (he/him), Director, ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief
• Alexandra Brodsky (she/her), Senior Attorney, Public Justice Students’ Civil Rights Project

11:50 AM - 1:00 PM: Keynote Speech (Lunch Provided)

Delivered by Erin Reed (she/her), independent LGBTQ+ journalist.

Erin Reed is a transgender journalist based in Washington, D.C.. She tracks LGBTQ+ legislation around the United States for her subscription newsletter, ErinInTheMorning.com. Her work has been cited by the AP, Reuters, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and many more major media outlets. You can follow her on Bluesky @ErinInTheMorning.Com and on TikTok @ErinInTheMorn.

1:10 PM - 2:20 PM: Panel 3: LGBTQIA+ Youth in Out of Home Care

Moderated by Brittany Mobley (she/her), Deputy Chief, Juvenile Services Program at the DC Public Defender Service*

*Title and agency name listed for identification purposes only

Speakers:

• Currey Cook (he/him), Senior Counsel and Youth in Out of Home Care Project Director, Lambda Legal
• Amy Leipziger (she/her), Project Director, Free to Be Youth Project of the Urban Justice Center
• Danielle "Danny" King, Esq. (he/she/they), Youth Law Attorney

2:30 PM - 3:40 PM: Panel 4: Obstacles and Opportunities: the Impact of State Laws and Constitutions on LGBTQIA+ Youth Rights

Moderated by Professor Michele Bratcher Goodwin (she/her), Linda D. & Timothy J. O’Neill Professor of Constitutional Law and Global Health Policy, Georgetown University Law Center

Speakers:

• Sasha Buchert (she/her), Director, Trans and Nonbinary Rights Project, Lambda Legal
• Antonio L. Ingram II (he/him), Senior Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense Fund
• Lauren Pruitt (she/her), Legal Director, FreeState Justice
• Shanay Watson-Whittaker (she/her), Director, Michigan Campaigns, Reproductive Freedom for All

3:50 PM - 5 PM: Panel 5: Best Constitutional Arguments for Transgender Rights

Moderated by Professor Naomi Mezey (she/her), Agnes Williams Sesquicentennial Professor of Law and Culture, Georgetown University Law Center

Speakers:

• Dr. Anansi Wilson (he/they), Visiting Associate Professor of Law, Kansas University School of Law
• Professor Noa Ben-Asher (they/them), Professor of Law, St. John’s University School of Law
• Professor Diane (Klein) Kemker (she/her), Adjunct Professor of Law, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law and Loyola Law School (Los Angeles)

5 PM: Happy Hour/Closing

Accommodation requests should be made by March 7th to [email protected]

Host or Publisher The Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law