I am based in Los Angeles. I litigate lawsuits on behalf of the ACLU regarding LGBTQ rights and rights of people living with HIV. These presently include lawsuits regarding:* the rights of transgender students to access restrooms at their schools that are consistent with their gender identity, * the rights of transgender prisoners to necessary gender-affirming care, * the rights of prospective foster parents not to be discriminated against by foster care agencies on… Show more I am based in Los Angeles. I litigate lawsuits on behalf of the ACLU regarding LGBTQ rights and rights of people living with HIV. These presently include lawsuits regarding:* the rights of transgender students to access restrooms at their schools that are consistent with their gender identity, * the rights of transgender prisoners to necessary gender-affirming care, * the rights of prospective foster parents not to be discriminated against by foster care agencies on the basis of sexual orientation or religion, * the rights of transgender people to change the sex marker on their birth certificate to be consistent with their gender identity, and* the rights of transgender and gender-nonconforming students to be able to use names and pronouns that they want without notification of parents without their consent. Show less

As Chief Counsel for Freedom for All Americans Education Fund, I:* Oversaw Freedom for All Americans Education Fund's work to advance long-term strategic thinking that achieves proactive court victories; * Provided free advice, mentoring, and assistance to private attorneys working on key cases related to sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination; * Consulted on friend-of-the-court briefs in precedent-setting LGBTQ rights appeals; and *… Show more As Chief Counsel for Freedom for All Americans Education Fund, I:* Oversaw Freedom for All Americans Education Fund's work to advance long-term strategic thinking that achieves proactive court victories; * Provided free advice, mentoring, and assistance to private attorneys working on key cases related to sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination; * Consulted on friend-of-the-court briefs in precedent-setting LGBTQ rights appeals; and * Developed model policies and analyses of federal and state legislative proposals affecting equal treatment for LGBTQ people. Show less

Provide legal research and analysis to nonprofit organizations and write legal columns.• Clients have included Freedom for All Americans, the National Immigration Law Center, the Advancement Project, DRI, Dentons, and Sullivan & Triggs LLC.• Analyzed legislation; organized convening regarding Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colo. Civil Rights Comm’n messaging and religious exemption issues; provided legal research, analysis and advice regarding pending and contemplated impact… Show more Provide legal research and analysis to nonprofit organizations and write legal columns.• Clients have included Freedom for All Americans, the National Immigration Law Center, the Advancement Project, DRI, Dentons, and Sullivan & Triggs LLC.• Analyzed legislation; organized convening regarding Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colo. Civil Rights Comm’n messaging and religious exemption issues; provided legal research, analysis and advice regarding pending and contemplated impact litigation; wrote series of columns regarding LGBTQ legal issues for the Washington Blade and Los Angeles Blade newspapers and websites Show less

Leader of the Legal Department of the nation's largest and oldest legal organization dedicated to the protection and advancement of the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and people living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. • Architect of Lambda’s national litigation strategy: coordinated work with allied organizations; represented the organization in interactions with government officials and foundations. Extensive media… Show more Leader of the Legal Department of the nation's largest and oldest legal organization dedicated to the protection and advancement of the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and people living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. • Architect of Lambda’s national litigation strategy: coordinated work with allied organizations; represented the organization in interactions with government officials and foundations. Extensive media, messaging, and public speaking experience.• Supervised legal team of 31 attorneys and 16 support staff (including policy advocates, trainers, legal help desk analysts, and legal assistants) across Lambda Legal’s six offices nationwide. Developed and managed department budget, structure, hiring, and operations.• Lead or co-counsel in more than 30 precedent-setting cases resulting in published decisions in all areas of LGBT and HIV law, including: ◦ Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2071 (2015) (establishing constitutional right of same-sex couples to marry); ◦ Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College, 830 F.3d 698 (7th Cir. en banc 2017) (holding that Title VII’s ban on sex discrimination encompasses discrimination based on sexual orientation); ◦ Colin v. Orange Unified School District, 83 F. Supp. 2d 1135 (C.D. Cal. 2000) (granting preliminary injunction against exclusion of student gay-straight alliance from school forum); and ◦ Koebke v. Bernardo Heights Country Club, 36 Cal. 4th 824 (2005) (concluding that California businesses cannot deny registered domestic partners benefits provided to spouse. Show less

Assisted Legal Director in running of the Legal Department at Lambda Legal; handled major public interest litigation advancing or defending the rights of LGBT people and people living with HIV across the U.S.; supervised staff attorneys and cooperating attorneys nationally.

Handled major public interest litigation and supervised legal work in organization’s Western Regional Office (covering 11 states in the Western United States).

Lead or co-counsel in litigation brought on behalf of lesbians and gay men, women, and people living with HIV and other disabilities challenging deprivation of constitutional and civil rights in employment, housing, insurance, public accommodations, health care, the criminal justice system, and family law. • Oversaw sexual orientation litigation and coordinated work and positions with national ACLU and California affiliates• Won victories in more than a dozen path-breaking cases… Show more Lead or co-counsel in litigation brought on behalf of lesbians and gay men, women, and people living with HIV and other disabilities challenging deprivation of constitutional and civil rights in employment, housing, insurance, public accommodations, health care, the criminal justice system, and family law. • Oversaw sexual orientation litigation and coordinated work and positions with national ACLU and California affiliates• Won victories in more than a dozen path-breaking cases resulting in published decisions. Show less

Lead or co-counsel in litigation brought on behalf of lesbians and gay men, women, and people living with HIV and other disabilities challenging deprivation of constitutional and civil rights in employment, housing, insurance, public accommodations, health care, the criminal justice system, and family law.

Assisted the late U.S. District Court Judge William Matthew Byrne, Jr. with legal research, analysis, and drafting.