2025 Symposium – Transcendence: Legal Efforts to Protect and Advance LGBTQIA+ Youth Rights

Friday, March 21, 2025

RSVP for the Spring 2025 Symposium here

Join The Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law and the Gender+ Justice Initiative for this timely convening of scholars, practitioners, and activists to discuss current attacks on LGBTQIA+ youth rights.

Program Overview

9 AM: Opening Remarks

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

10:30 AM: Future Hot Topics in LGBTQIA+ Youth Rights

11:50 AM: Keynote Speech (Lunch Provided)

1:10 PM: LGBTQIA+ Youth in Out of Home Care

2:30 PM: Obstacles and Opportunities: the Impact of State Laws and Constitutions on LGBTQIA+ Youth Rights

3:50 PM: Best Constitutional Arguments for Transgender Rights

5:00 PM: Happy Hour/Closing

Detailed Program

Opening Remarks

Opening remarks will be delivered by Siena Hohne (she/her), Symposium Editor of The Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law.

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

Future Hot Topics in LGBTQIA+ Youth Rights

Moderated by Professor Allegra McLeod, 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 

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.

Erin’s speech is entitled “From The History To The Headlines: Resilience In The Modern Rainbow Scare.” This presentation traces the evolution of transgender identity from ancient examples through the rise of modern trans figures, highlighting shifts in cultural perception, visibility, and representation. It examines ongoing developments in transgender healthcare, from updated treatment guidelines to changes in how care is accessed, and outlines the growing legislative challenges aimed at transgender communities. Finally, it offers concrete steps for individuals to become better allies, advocates, and informed observers amidst a rapidly shifting social and legal landscape.

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, 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 (he/she/they), Esq., Youth Law Attorney

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

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)

Happy Hour/Closing

Please note the happy hour has been moved to the Sports & Fitness Lobby. Attendees will have the opportunity to mingle and network with speakers. Beer, wine, nonalcoholic drinks, and light snacks provided.

 

Accommodation requests should be made by March 7th to srh108@georgetown.edu