Constructing Change II Conference

The Flint Hills Observer
January 1997 CONSTRUCTING CHANGE II Seeking Our Human Rights Friday, January 31, 1997 Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas This conference is sponsored by the Washburn Law Students Gay & Lesbian Network and the National Lesbian & Gay Law Association. "Constructing Change: Seeking Our Human Rights" is a conference for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered people, their friends and families. The conference emphasizes two aspects: legal and social. While the legal tract focuses on the law and educating attorneys and law students, it is open to all. The other tract focuses on concerns we have as a community.

Schedule

8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Registration

9:00 - 10:15 Family Law Update: Nancy Maxwell

10:30 - 11:45 Estate Planning for Same Sex Couples: Patricia Cain

11:45 - 12:45 Lunch (provided)

1:00 - 2:15 p.m. Civil Rights: Is Bowers Really Dead? Matt Coles & Roger Leishman

2:30 - 3:45 Using International law to vindicate the Civil Rights of Lesbians and Gays: James Wilets, Mark Wojcik

4:00 - 5:15 Practical Aspects of Queer (or heterosexually-challenged) Lawyers: Suzanne Levitt, Jim Schwartz, Mark Wojcik, Deb Taylor

5:15 - 6:15 Reception

Break out Workshops

10:30 - 11:45 a.m. "It's Elementary" A free film sponsored by Topeka AIDS Project, which shows what actually happens when teachers address anti-gay prejudice.

2:30 - 3:45 p.m. Coming Out: Self Discovery and Identity Development in an Indifferent World: Elizabeth A. Goudy

4:00 - 5:15 p.m. Constructing & Creating Families: Nonlegal Aspects of Same-Sex Parenting: Nancy Palmer, Marilynn Koelliker

The Speakers

Patricia A. Cain is a Professor and Associate Dean at the University of Iowa Law School where she teaches Federal Income Tax, Wills & Estates, Feminist Legal Theory and Property. She has published extensive articles and books on tax, feminist and queer theory.

Nancy G. Maxwell is a Professor of Law at Washburn University School of Law where she teaches Family Law, Feminist Legal Theory and Juvenile Law. Professor Maxwell is a charter member of The Gay & Lesbian Task Force of Topeka.

Matthew Coles is the Director of the ACLU's National Lesbian and Gay Rights and AIDS/HIV Projects. He has been a leader in the Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights movement for almost 20 years. Most recently, Matt was one of the main architects of the Romer challenge.

Roger Leishman is the Director of the Illinois ACLU's Gay and Lesbian Rights and AIDS and Civil Projects which work to secure rights for gay men, lesbians and those who are HIV-positive or who have AIDS.

Mark E. Wojcik is an Assistant Professor of Law at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, where he teaches courses in lawyering skills, international human rights, and sexual orientation law. Mark is a Board member of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago (LAGBAC) and publishes that organization's monthly newsletter.

James L. Schwartz is the Midwest Regional Representative to The National Lesbian and Gay Law Association. He is also in private practice. Jim represented the plaintiff in Trovinger where for the first time in the U.S. a physician was ordered, pursuant to ADA, to treat an HIV positive man.

Suzanne J. Levitt is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Tulsa, College of Law and Director of the Health Law Clinic there. Prior to teaching, Suzanne practices Employment and Discrimination Law in Connecticut and New York City for over six years.

James Wilets is a Professor at the University of Miami School of Law where he teaches constitutional law, civil rights law, human rights and international law. He has written extensively on human rights and sexual orientation. He is also Executive Director of the Inter-American Center for Human Rights, a broad-based human rights consortium involving several universities and direct service providers in South Florida.

Deb Taylor is publisher of the Flint Hills Observer, a glbt newsletter serving the educational, political, and social needs of Manhattan, Kansas State University, and the surrounding areas. She is also the owner of a recently-established email listserv, Kansas Rainbow, which serves all Kansas queers.

Nancie Palmer, Ph.D., LMSW, ACSW, is the program director for the BSW Program at Washburn University, Department of Social Work. She has been a social worker for over 26 years and now, "Nana," a co-grandparent to a lively two year old.

Marilynn Koelliker, LSCSW, is a counselor in Washburn University's Counseling & Testing Center. She has also worked as a social worker for the Topeka-Shawnee County Health Agency.

Elizabeth A. Gowdy, Ph.D. candidate with the K.U. School of Social Welfare, has devoted much of her time over the last 20 years to improving the lives of lesbians and gays in Kansas through various professional and political activities.

Registration is only $15, if made by January 17, 1997 (includes lunch). Registration is $25 at the door. Sliding scale available ($5 to cover the cost of lunch). Seven and one half CLE hours will be available for Kansas or Missouri practicing attorneys. The charge will be $50 (lunch included).

Make checks payable to Washburn Law Student Gay & Lesbian Network - No refunds.

Mail your payment to: WLSGLN, "Constructing Change II: Seeking Our Human Rights" Conference, Washburn University School of Law, 1700 College, Topeka, Kansas 66621. For more information, call Professor Charlene Smith, (913) 231-1010, ext. 1665 e-mail: zzsmch@acc.wuacc.edu

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