SCLGI Blog

F6: Realizing Visions and Valuing History:
20 Years of the Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues
Presented Tuesday, July 19, 2005, AALL Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas

Speakers:
• Carol Alpert was Associate Curator at New York University Law Library 1980 - 2002.
• Albert O. Brecht is Associate Dean, Chief Information Officer and John Stauffer Professor of Law at the University of Southern California Barnett Info. Tech Center & Call Law Library.
• Camille Broussard is Acting Director and Associate Librarian for Reader Services at the New York Law School Library.
• Laura N. “Lolly” Gasaway is Director of the Law Library and Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
• George R. Jackson is Reference and Government Documents Librarian at the University of Minnesota Law Library.
• Marilyn Nicely is Technical Services Librarian at the University of Oklahoma Law Library.
• Scott Pagel is Director of the Law Library and Professor of Law at The George Washington University.
• Ann Puckett is Director of the Law Library and Professor of Law and University of Georgia.
See the last pages of this handout for more details on each of the speakers.

A Brief History of SCGLI
(cited directly from www.aallnet.org/sis/srsis/lgbt/history.html)
“Approved as a standing committee of the AALL Contemporary Social Problems (now Social Responsibility) Special Interest Section, founder Carol Alpert called the first meeting of the Standing Committee during the 1985 AALL annual meeting in New York City. Over the next decade, the Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues emerged as one of the most active and committed divisions within the American Association of Law Libraries. A constitution and by-laws governing the Standing Committee were proposed and adopted in 1992. What began as an informal group of lesbian and gay law librarians in 1985 has today evolved into a formal organization with 160+ members.”
“Until 1994, the Standing Committee was guided by Co-Chairs, a lesbian and a gay man. Current officers include a Chair, Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect, and Secretary that are elected every year, with past officers acting in an "advisory" capacity. The officers work closely with the leadership of the Social Responsibility SIS and participate in project planning and coordination for the group as a whole. The annual business meeting follows the SR-SIS meeting.”

Activities
(Cited directly from www.aallnet.org/sis/srsis/lgbt/history.html)
“If the Social Responsibility SIS can be termed the "conscience" of AALL, then the Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues is certainly the "lesbian and gay conscience" of the Association. The Standing Committee has been and continues to be instrumental in promoting non-discrimination policies and diversity in all aspects of the employment and professional life of law librarians. Through Standing Committee efforts, sexual orientation was added to the Association's anti-discrimination bylaws and placement guidelines; a resolution on AIDS in the workplace was adopted by AALL; and the AALL Executive Board canceled a proposed 1998 annual meeting in Denver, due to the passage of the anti-gay Proposition Two in Colorado. Most recently, at the 2004 meeting in Boston, the Association passed a resolution, proposed by SR-SIS and the Standing Committee, opposing any state or federal constitutional amendments that would define marriage as solely between a man and a woman.”
“The Standing Committee's publication, ‘Sexual Orientation and the Law: A Selective Bibliography on Homosexuality and the Law 1969-1993,’ was published in volume 86 of Law Library Journal in 1994. A wide variety of educational programs have been sponsored by the Standing Committee, including ones on lesbian and gay legal collection development; AIDS; and lesbians and gays in the military. Although a Standing Committee mentor program was first started informally in 1991, a gay and lesbian mentor component was officially added to AALL's program the following year.”
“In addition to professional endeavors, the Standing Committee hosts an annual reception on the Tuesday evening of meeting week. The reception is always well-attended and is an excellent way to meet colleagues in a relaxed social setting.”

The Alan Holoch Memorial Grant
(Paraphrased from the Proceedings of the 95th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Law Libraries, Fall 2002)

When former Ohio State University Law Library Director and AALL treasurer, Alan Holoch died in 1991, the SCGLI and AALL lost one of their brightest stars. However, his commitment to the GLBT community and AALL lives on in the form of The Alan Holoch Memorial Travel Grant. In line with Mr. Holoch’s values, the grant assists individuals with travel or registration expenses for the American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting. Alan Holoch established the fund and designated that it be used for educational purposes. The SCLGI agreed that funding travel and registration are the best uses for this fund. The first grant was awarded in 2002.

While the grant has been in existence for only a short time there is already evidence that individuals chosen to receive the grant, go on to make significant contribution to law librarianship through their involvement with AALL and the Standing Committee on Lesbian & Gay Issues.
Resolutions
1987 – American Association of Law Libraries supports equal opportunity employment for lesbian and gay people in all types of libraries by amending Article 9 of the bylaws to include “sexual orientation;” and passing the following resolution:
WHEREAS, The American Association of Law Libraries endorses and encourages equal opportunity in employment for its members regardless of race color, religion, sex, age national origin, disability, or sexual orientation; and

WHEREAS, the Association supports the concept of dissemination of information representing all points of view;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the General Membership of the American Association of Law Libraries, that AALL supports the policy of equal employment opportunities for lesbian and gay people in all types of libraries;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLOVED, that the Association urges the libraries to acquire legal materials on the role of lesbian and gay people in society appropriate to their users.
Presented by the Contemporary Social Problems Special Interest Section (later renamed SR-SIS) at the annual meeting in Chicago, July 8, 1987
1988 – American Association of Law Libraries opposes discrimination in employment against persons with HIV/AIDS
WHEREAS, the American Association of Law Libraries endorses and encourages equal opportunity in employment for its members regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability or sexual orientation; and
WHEREAS, the Association recognizes that the world faces the epidemic of AIDS/HIV infection; now therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the American Association of Law Libraries opposes discrimination in employment against all persons or the denial of library and information access to all person who have acquired AIDS or who test positive for the human immunodeficiency virus-HIV.
Proposed by the Contemporary Social Problems SIS (later SR-SIS)
at the annual meeting in Atlanta, GA, June 27, 1988

1990 – AALL encourages the promotion of diversity in the programs and presentations.

WHERAS, the American Association of Law Libraries is an international professional association of over 4,600 members whose common purpose is to promote librarianship, to develop and increase the value and usefulness of law libraries, and to foster a spirit of cooperation among the members of the profession; and

WHEREAS, the members of Association represent the pluralism of society, are people of different races, people of differing sexual orientation, people with cultural differences; and it is the stated policy of the Association to encourage all members of our profession to participate fully in the Association regardless of one’s race, color, ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation or disability; and

WHEREAS, the members of AALL participate in Association activities and attend the annual meeting of the Association to further their educational and professional development, to develop and maintain contacts with colleagues and legal professionals from around the country and the world; and

WHEREAS, the Association promotes and supports policies against discrimination among its members and in society and the leaders, members and representatives of the Association serve to reflect the commitment of the Association to those policies and goals; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED that the Executive Board of the American Association of Law Libraries encourages its members, as well as committee chairs, educational program sponsors and coordinators, to strive to reflect the diversity of or membership by nominating and selecting representatives from all segments of society as speakers, committee members and other representatives in all Association sponsored activities.
Submitted by the Contemporary Social Problems SIS (later SR-SIS and the Committee on Minorities to the AALL Executive Board, January 2, 1990

2004 – American Association of Law Libraries strongly opposes any proposed federal and state constitutional amendments defining marriage as only between a man and a woman
WHEREAS the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, and
WHEREAS AALL adopted, seventeen years ago, a Membership Resolution including sexual orientation in its non-discrimination policy, and
WHEREAS AALL has a Social Responsibilities Special Interest Section (SR-SIS), which addresses issues of social change and social responsibility that are of concern to AALL members both personally and professionally, including equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people, and
WHEREAS these goals continue to be achieved through annual meeting educational programs, publications, AALL professional activity, and social opportunities, and
WHEREAS other professional organizations such as the American Bar Association and the American Association of University Professors have enacted resolutions opposing a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as only between a man and a woman, and
WHEREAS the U.S. Constitution has served historically to expand the scope of democratic liberty and increase the number of people entitled to claim that liberty, and
WHEREAS constitutional amendments at the federal and state level defining marriage as only between a man and a woman intentionally discriminate against lesbians and gay men by denying them access to the protections, benefits, and responsibilities extended automatically to married couples, and
WHEREAS a viable democracy does not depend on defining marriage solely as a heterosexual institution, and
WHEREAS the proposed constitutional amendments appeal to Americans' prejudices and fears rather than to their higher values of equality and justice,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Association of Law Libraries strongly opposes any proposed federal and state constitutional amendments defining marriage as only between a man and a woman.
Presented by the Social Responsibilities Special Interest Section at the annual business meeting in Boston, July 12, 2004

Annual Meeting Educational Programs Coordinated by Standing Committee Members
All information on the programs between 1985 and 2003 is cited from Frank G. Houdek and Susan D. Golder’s AALL Annual Meetings: An Annotated Index of the Recordings-AALL Publications Series No. 32 published by Fred B Rothman & Co. of Littleton, CO in 1989 and updated each year. You can find this two volume loose-leaf in many law libraries under the LC call number Z 675.L2 H68. I have included the Tape # for each program which is the numbering system used within the volumes. Descriptions of the 2003 and 2004 programs were provided by the coordinator of the programs.

1985
Private Life and the Law
Carol Alpert, Moderator- while this program predates the official formation of the Standing Committee, I include it because of the relevance of the content and because it was moderated by Carol Alpert, who that very year called the first meeting of the standing committee.
Explored how legislation and court decisions affect the “private lives” of people whose lifestyles are not “mainstream.” Drawing on their research and litigation experience, the panelists: Arthur Leonard, Professor of New York Law School; Rosemary Dempsey, Attorney, McGahney Casey & Dempsey, Trenton, N.J.; Martin Guggenheim, Professor of New York University School of law, focused on three topics of current relevance: AIDS victims; sexual orientation and child custody; and the sanctity of the parent/child relationship.
Tape # 85-AALL-D3
1986
Lobbying for Controversial Causes: Words from the Front Line
Jane M. Arvanites, Moderator
Lobbying for unpopular causes often entails challenging emotional and personal prejudices. Panelists: Nancy Roth, Former Executive Director, Gay Rights National Lobby; Holly Sloan, Associate Director, National Council of Jewish Women; and Vic Basile, Executive Director, Human Rights Campaign Fund, shared their perspectives from their lobbying efforts against immigration laws affecting “undesirables,” budget cuts for AIDS research, and legislation limiting reproductive rights. Considered how to educate legislators about emotional and controversial topics and what types of information are most persuasive.
Tape # 86-AALL-G1
1988
AIDS Testing and Random Drug Testing: an Invasion of Privacy?
Carol Alpert, Coordinator, Pamela J. Gregory, Moderator
Persons with positive test results for AIDS, as well as for drugs, have been denied employment, child visitation privileges, and bail. Legal challenges to such testing have been based on the right to privacy, the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure, due process, negligence, and contract law. Members of the panel: David Barr, Attorney, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund; James J. Kelley, Partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius; Gene Matthews, Legal Counsel, Centers for Disease Control, examined these legal challenges and summarized case trends and various legal perspectives.
Tape # 88-AALL-B4
1989
Family Law Issues
Richard Gibson, Moderator
Rhonda Rivera, Professor of Law, Ohio State University and Paula Ettelbrick, Lambda Legal Defense Fund, addressed a host of family law issues which have arisen in the past decade and which present philosophical and practical considerations for the information provider. These issues were addressed in the context of specific family law developments – legislation concerning adoption and foster care with respect to gay and lesbian people, surrogacy and artificial insemination, and AIDS.
Tape # 89-AALL-F4
Pro-bono Work in Law Firms and the Impact on the Library
Jennifer Rish, Coordinator; Camille Broussard, Moderator
This program explored the impact on the librarian and library of a law firm’s pro-bono work to non-profit organizations; the law firm’s philosophy regarding such activities; and the implications for the librarian in terms of budgeting, time management, resource requirements and staff support. Speakers: Ben Schatz, Directory AIDS Civil Rights Project, National Gay Rights Advocates; Loretta Mak, Law Librarian, Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe ; Robert E. Borton, Partner, Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe.
Tape # 89-AALL-G1
1990
Crime and Prejudice: Hate Crime in America
Ruth Parlin and Rita Parham, Moderators
Members of the panel: Pat Clark, Executive Director, Klanwatch; Kevin Berrill, Director, Anti-Violence Project, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; David Dennis, Attorney, Dennis, Burns & Mason; and Richard Delgado, Professor of Law, University of Wisconsin Law School, discussed the nature and extent of the increase in crime motivated by prejudice, directed at members of racial, religious, ethnic, and sexual minorities. They also described and evaluated some of the responses to hate crime, including data collection efforts, law enforcement sensitivity training, campus programs on tolerance and diversity, media depictions of hate crime, and community organizing and coalition building.
Tape # 90-AALL-H7
1991
AIDS: The Continuing Challenge
George R. Jackson, Moderator
Few remain untouched by the AIDS epidemic as it enters its second decade, and librarians need to know what the issues are and how to respond to them. Speakers: Sharon Day, Executive Director, Minnesota American Indian AIDS Task Force; Arthur S. Leonard, Professor of Law, New York Law School; Belinda Rochelle, Health Issues Advocate, National Gay &Lesbian Task Force, addressed the legal challenges associated with the increasing legislative and judicial action in this area, with workplace issues, and with the expansion of the epidemic throughout society.
Tape # 91-AALL-F4
1992
The Lavender Library: Developing a Lesbian and Gay Legal Collection
Carol Alpert and George R. Jackson, Coordinators
Although lesbian and gay issues span the legal spectrum, library collections often do not have adequate resources to support research. Panelists : George R. Jackson, Reference Librarian, University of Minnesota Law Library; Polly Thistlewaite, Reference Librarian, Hunter College, City University of New York; Diana Vincent-Daviss, Law Librarian, Yale Law School Library, addressed research needs, identification of bibliographic resources, collection development policy issues, strategies for administrative support, and sensitivity in public access.
Tape # 92-AALL-A6
Lesbians and Gays in the Military
Richard Gibson, Moderator
Speakers: Matt Coles, Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union; Kate Dyer, Former Executive Assistant to U.S. Representative Gerry Studds (Democrat, Massachusetts); Peter Laska, Architect, analyzed issues presented by the explicit exclusion of lesbians and gays from the armed forces, including whether the official policies are based on empirical findings or on prejudice. They also described the legal and political responses, which have been made to these military policies.
Tape # 92-AALL-F4
1993
HIV and AIDS: the Next Generation is Now
William T. Owens-Smith, Moderator
The enormous amount of materials, resources, and research literature produced since the first identification of AIDS in 1981 represents a significant challenge to the information professional that must forge a link between the needs of a patron or client and the continuing proliferation of available sources. This program illustrated the essential but often underutilized Center for Disease Control National AIDS Clearinghouse as well as other resources through presentations by law and information professionals: John Watson, HIV/AIDS Library and Information Services Liaison, Centers for Disease Control AIDS Clearinghouse; Jean Hofacket, Director of Information Services, AIDS Information Network, AIDS Library of Philadelphia; William Garza, Director of AIDS Law Project, Gay and Lesbian Advocates and
Defenders, Park Square Advocates, Inc., who have utilized these services to meet the needs of clients and patrons.
Tape # 93-AALL-D8
1995
Connecting for Justice – a Diverse Coalition
Camille Broussard, Moderator
The legal profession is much more diverse than one might realize – a reality demonstrated by the fact that only about half of the lawyers in the U.S. are currently members of the ABA. Representatives from organizations other than the ABA to which many legal professions belong discussed the history and mission of their groups and what they need from law librarians. Speakers were: Ruth Cohen, the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association; A.J. Cooper, Ginsburg Feleman & Bress; and Martin A. Sanchez, the National Lawyer’s Guild.
Tape # 95-AALL-B9
Out in the Workplace: Current Legal Issues
John Davey and Tobin Sparling, Coordinators
Following an overview of the current state of existing laws, the speakers: Ruth Cohen, National Lesbian and Gay Law Association; Frances M. Maloney, Epstein Becker & Green; Tobin Sparling, Reference/Circulation Librarian, South Texas College of Law Library, addressed various issues relating to sexual orientation and the workplace. The views of both management and lesbian and gay employees were considered. Discussion focused on what constitutes sexual orientation discrimination, who is covered under the laws, the extent to which the law protects the employer and employee, and the potential consequences of voluntarily establishing a policy against sexual orientation discrimination at work. After their formal presentations, speakers were given various case scenarios and asked to address them as if they were counsel for either the plaintiff or defendant.
Tape # 95-AALL-H6
Domestic Partner Benefits: Narratives, Overview, Status Report from the Front
Carol Alpert, Coordinator, James E. Duggan, Moderator
This program began with an overview of the status and history of domestic partner benefits presented by speaker Paula Ettelbrick, Empire State Pride Agenda. She also reviewed the legal issues pertaining to such benefits and the civil rights implications for the lesbian and gay community. Speakers: Debi Mazor, Orrick Herrington Sutcliffe; and Carol Alpert, New York University Law Library, followed by reporting on the development of domestic partner benefits at their respective institutions, with each exploring some of the workplace issues that arose during implementation.
Tape # 95-AALL-I2
1996
Human Rights Worldwide: When the Message is Hard to Deliver-Refugees
Marci Hoffman and George R. Jackson, Coordinators
Refugees and internally displaced persons currently number more than 23 million. The panel: Sydney Levy, International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission; Elisa Mason, Center for Documentation of Refugees; and Jennifer Prestholdt, Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, outlined the current state of the law pertaining to this situation, discussing specific policies and guidelines, international agreements, national law, and case law. They also identified key international institutions, the roles they play as advocates and educators, and as disseminators of information. Research strategies and suggestions on useful resources (including print, electronic, and human) were offered.
Tape # 96-AALL-C2
Human Rights Worldwide: When the Message is Hard to Deliver-Women
Marci Hoffman, George R. Jackson, Coordinators
Reflecting the recent UN Conference on Women that highlighted grave violations of the human rights of women due to armed conflict and the status of women around the world, panelists: Robin Phillips, Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights; Jennifer Prestholdt, Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, outlined the state of the law, including specific policies and guidelines, international agreements, national law, and case law. They also identified key international institutions, and described the roles they play as advocates and educators as well as disseminators of information. Suggestions on research strategies and resources (including print, electronic, and human) were offered.
Tape # 96-AALL-D1
Human Rights Worldwide: When the Message is Hard to Deliver—Sexual Minorities
Marci Hoffman and George R. Jackson, Coordinators
Sexual minorities throughout the world are persecuted and marginalized because they lack equal rights and protection under the law. Panelists: Laurence Helfer, Rabinowitz Boudin Standard Kinskey & Lieberman and Sydney Levy International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission, outlined the state of the law, including specific policies and guidelines, international agreements, national law, and case law. They also identified key international institutions, and described the roles they play as advocates and educators as well as disseminators of information. Suggestions on research strategies and resources (including print, electronic, and human) were offered.
Tape # 96-AALL-F2
Transgender Law Comes Out of the Closet: Delivering a Hidden Message
Tom R. Heitz, Moderator
Transgendered people are a diverse community characterized collectively by the redefinition of their individual gender identities through hormonal therapy, sex reassignment surgery, or other non-surgical means. Transgendered people are the subject of unique legal questions affecting human and civil rights, employment law, health law, and other areas. Panelists: Phyllis Randolph Frye, International Conference on Transgender Law and Employment Policy; Anne Johnson, Congress of Transgender Organizations; Karen Kerin, It’s Time America; Martine A. Rothblatt, Vice Chair, Bioethics Subcommittee, International Bar Association; and Sharon Ann Stuart, Stuart Communications focused on the terminology of gender differentiation; cultural and legal ramifications of transgenderism; case law, administrative regulations, and policy developments, including current legislative initiatives; and the International Bill of Gender Rights.
Tape # 96-AALL-I4
1998
Each Jurisdiction Has Its Own Horizon: Gay Rights is a Local Issue
John H. Davey, Moderator
Most activity regarding gay rights occurs at the city and county level in the absence of federal legislation guaranteeing civil rights protection to lesbians and gays. A speaker active in local government legislation provided information on the current state of gay rights legislation throughout the U.S., while a law librarian discussed the challenges of, and provided tips for, locating local ordinances. Speakers were: Todd Erich Bennett, Thelen, Marrin, Johnson & Bridges; Jennifer C. Pizer, Western Regional Office, Lambda Legal Defense & Education.
Tape # 98-AALL-F7
2000
Hate Crimes: Examining the Issues
Todd Erich Bennett, Moderator
Although civil rights statutes designating hate crimes have existed for more than thirty years, the law remains narrow in scope; current federal law does not include bias against someone because of gender, sexual orientation, or disability as a basis for a hate crime. Panelists: Larry Frankel, ACLU of Pennsylvania; Marvin C. Peguese, Lambda Legal Education & Defense Fund, spoke about the status of current and pending hate crime legislation, issues in today’s society affecting the spread of hate crimes (i.e. the Internet), and major U.S. hate crime cases.
Tape # 00-AALL-L2
2001
Pornography on the Internet: a New Reality
Alison Alifano, Coordinator, George R. Jackson, Moderator
Speakers: Helen Burke, Minneapolis Public Library; Charlene Cain, Louisiana State University; Paul M. Hebert, Law Centre Library; Judith Krug, American Library Association, discussed the theoretical and practical issues involved in limiting access to information in a public library, particularly with regard to the complicated national debate about First Amendment rights and censorship prompted by access to pornography on the Internet. They discussed specific policies that already exist in libraries and examples of the steps that public law librarians are taking to deal with the viewing of pornographic Internet sites at public access terminals.
Tape # 01-AALL-B7
Gender Outlaws: Sex Roles and the Performance of Gender in the Workplace
Matthew Wright, Moderator
Although more than a dozen states offer legal protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation, the legal definitions used do not always reflect the relationship between sexuality and gender. Speakers: Joni M. Thorne, Attorney at Law; Allan Spear, Minnesota State Senate, discussed the broader language in the Minnesota statute that affords greater protection against gender-based discrimination, including gendered behavior and identity.
Tape # 01-AALL-G4
2002
State of Civil Unions: a Legal Update on the Impact of Vermont Civil Unions
James Murphy, Moderator
A same-sex couple from any state can now establish a “civil union”, a legal status parallel to marriage, under Vermont state law. Neither marriage nor domestic partnership, this program discussed how civil unions affect other areas of law, (family law, benefits, inheritance, property, personal injury, immigration) and reported on its impact on life in Vermont. The consequences of the Vermont law on other jurisdictions were also considered. Speakers were Susan Murray, Langrock Speery & Wool LLP; Hector Vargas, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund.
Tape # 02-AALL-C5
2003
“Queer Kids” Law: a Look at the Legal Needs of Lesbian and Gay Youth
Sarah Valentine, Coordinator, James Murphy, Moderator
Physical and psychological harassment in schools, indefinite confinement to mental to mental institutions, mistreatment in foster care and removal from homes are just some of the challenges that drive homosexual, bisexual, or transgendered youth to seek legal help. Speakers: Todd Keough, Seattle University School of Law; Ruthann Robson, City University of New York, School of Law, discussed typical situations in which such youth suffer discrimination and abuse, reviewed the legal issues from a nationwide perspective, and explored how the Internet can assist both the lawyer handling such cases as well as the youth involved.
Tape # 03-AALL-B5
2004
HIV/AIDS: a Global Epidemic and an Issue of International Law
Elvira Embser-Herbert, Coordinator
This program explored the current state of the pandemic and its relation to the work of those in the law and the library communities. Librarians and scholars face the challenge of researching HIV/AIDS within the context of intellectual property issues related to drug treatments, immigration laws relating to persons with diseases, and discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS in violation of international human rights standards. Linda Sussman, Ph.D., USAID, Mary Rumsey, University of Minnesota Law Library, and Jayanth K. Krishnan, Ph. D., William Mitchell College of Law, discussed these issues, presented demographic information and offered suggestions to others researching HIV/AIDS as an issue of international law.
Tape # 04-AALL-E6
2005
Realizing Visions and Valuing History: 20 Years of the Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues
Elvira Embser-Herbert, Coordinator
In the early 1980’s, a handful of law librarians had a vision for AALL as an inclusive organization on the forefront of anti-discrimination. In 1985, that vision began to be realized when the Contemporary Social Problems (now Social Responsibilities) Special Interest Section of AALL approved a Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues (SCLGI). Over the last 20 years, the SCLGI has continued to realize this vision by presenting 15 educational programs, publishing a bibliography on sexual orientation and the law, proposing anti-discrimination member resolutions, encouraging the inclusion of sexual orientation to the Association’s anti-discrimination policy, and encouraging the AALL Executive Board to cancel a proposed annual meeting in Denver after the state’s passage of an anti-gay proposition. The panelists: Carol Alpert, New York University Law Library; Albert O. Brecht, University of Southern California, Barnett Information Technology Center and Call Law Library; Camille Broussard, New York Law School Library; Laura N. Gasaway, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Law Library; George R. Jackson, University of Minnesota Law Library; Marilyn K. Nicely, University of Oklahoma Law Library; Scott Pagel, George Washington University, Jacob Burns Law Library, and Ann Puckett, University of Georgia Law Library, are pioneers, instrumental in the formation of SCLGI and its efforts to promote nondiscrimination in our profession. Together these visionaries demonstrate how the foresight of individuals brought and continues to bring value to AALL.
Tape # 05-AALL-F6

Speakers’ Biographies

Ms. Carol Alpert
1980-2002 Associate Curator, New York University School of Law Library
During her membership in AALL from 1980 to 2002, Ms. Alpert served on the Education, Grants, and Diversity committees; was active in Social Responsibilities (formerly Contemporary Social Problems) and Academic Special Interest Sections; and, perhaps most importantly for our program, founded the Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues. She served as SCLGI chair, 1985-1987 and also chaired the Contemporary Social Problems Special Interest Section, 1989-1990. As you will hear in the program today, Ms. Alpert not only drafted resolutions and coordinator programs, but also served as a catalyst for change in AALL. Her commitment to social justice and tenacity in seeing things through were fundamental in making AALL a welcoming environment for LGBT librarians.
Ms Alpert’s commitment to social justice extends beyond law librarianship. She has served on the Advisory Board of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, was active in Astrea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, NY Lesbian and Fay Film Festival and was a founder and co-chair of the Association of Faculty, Administrators, and Staff at New York University where she also chaired the Committee for Domestic Partner Benefits.

Mr. Albert O. Brecht
Associate Dean, Chief Information Officer and John Stauffer Professor of Law, USC ASA V. Call Law Library.
Dean Brecht specializes in computerized legal research and the expanding role of law librarians in the scholarly mission of the faculty at USC. He served as president of the American Association of Law Libraries from 1987-1988. He was also past president of the Southern California Association of Law Libraries. In spring 1998, the John Stauffer Charitable Trust made an historic move by presenting a gift to USC, which created a new and unique position of Chief Information Officer. This position combines the traditional duties of head law librarians with the constantly evolving task of managing detailed computer networks and databases. Dean Brecht has been appointed the inaugural holder of this post. During the past decade, Dean Brecht has assumed the greater share of responsibility for planning, implementing and maintaining the computer technology at the Law School.
As AALL President in 1998, Albert Brecht led the Business Meeting in which AALL passed the resolution opposing discrimination in employment against persons with HIV/AIDS. (see the Resolutions section of this handout) He also hosted the SCLGI reception that year.

Ms. Camille Broussard
Acting Director and Associate Librarian for Reader Services at the New York Law School Library
Professor Broussard received her law degree from Northwestern School of Law in 1981 and her Library Science master’s degree from Columbia University in 1991. In the same year, she joined the New York Law School Library as head of reference services and was appointed as associate librarian in 2002. Professor Broussard also teaches an Advanced Legal Research seminar, as well as research workshops and database searching classes. She is an active member of AALL and the Law Library Association of Greater New York.
Within AALL, Professor Broussard chaired the Contemporary Social Problems SIS, 1992-1993, and SCLGI, 1986-1987. She has also been active in ALL-SIS, and chaired the Mentoring and Retention Committee, and served as chairperson of the Law Library Journal/AALL Spectrum Editorial Advisory Board. Professor Broussard has coordinated countless educational programs, drafted resolutions, and has been referred to as “the memory” of SR-SIS and SCLGI for her tireless efforts to collect photographs and documents to preserve our history.

Ms. Laura N. Gasaway
Director of the Law Library and Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
In 1985, Laura Gasaway became director of the law library, and a professor at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law. Prior to that, she was law library director at University of Oklahoma, law librarian and assistant professor of law at University of Houston. She served as president of American Association of Law Libraries from 1986-1987. Ms. Gasaway is also active in the Special Libraries Association and received the John Cotton Dana award in 1987. She has served on the American Bar Association’s Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the bar. In 1992, Gasaway received the Mary Turner Lane Award, and in the same year was elected to the Executive Committee of the Faculty Council. She also chaired all 16 campuses of the UNC Faculty Assembly from 1997-1999. Gasaway was the first virtual scholar in residence at the Center for Intellectual Property at the University of Maryland University College. She has also chaired the Copyright Committee and Centennial Planning Task Force.
As AALL President, Ms. Gasaway led the Business Meeting in which AALL amended Article 9 of the bylaws to include “sexual orientation;” and passed a resolution to support equal opportunity employment for lesbian and gay people in all types of libraries, (see the Resolutions section of this handout.)

Mr. George R. Jackson
Reference and Government Documents Librarian at the University of Minnesota Law Library
Mr. Jackson received a B.A. degree from University of Pennsylvania and J.D. and M.L.S. degrees from University of Pittsburgh. He is an expert in the area of government documents and integrated legal research methodology. For two years, Professor Jackson worked at the State Law Library of Montana as a reference librarian and as an independent legal research consultant. He is an active member of the AALL and Minnesota Association of Law Libraries. In 1990, Mr. Jackson joined the University of Minnesota Law School Library. Prior to that, he served as Reference/Government Documents Librarian for Ohio State University College of Law for three years.
Within AALL, Mr. Jackson is a past member of AALL’s Diversity Committee and an active member to SCLGI and SR-SIS. A glance through the programs listed in this handout demonstrates the extent of Mr. Jackson’s involvement. He has coordinated and been a speaker on many programs, not all of which are listed here.

Ms. Marilyn K. Nicely
Technical Services Librarian at the University of Oklahoma Law Library
Marilyn Nicely is a technical services librarian and American Indian Law subject specialist. She has been with the O.U. Law Library since 1976. From 1985-1986, she chaired the Technical Services Special Interest Section for AALL. Ms. Nicely also served as secretary for the Mid-America Association of Law Libraries from 1996-1998. She is heavily involved in the Native American Constitution and Law Digitization Project, which is a joint project with the National Indian Law Library to place American Indian constitutions, codes, and other legal materials online. Nicely is the author of MAALL: An OCLC Union List of Legal Periodicals, and is currently a member of the American Association of Law Libraries, Mid-America Association of Law Libraries, and Southwestern Association of Law Libraries.
Ms. Nicely is an active member of the SR-SIS and the SCLGI. Her enthusiasm for this program in its idea stage and her encouragement throughout the process were instrumental to its success.

Mr. Scott Pagel
Director of the Law Library and Professor of Law at The George Washington University
Dean Pagel is a professor at George Washington University Law School, and director of the Jacobs Burns Law Library. Before he joined Jacob Burns Law Library, Dean Pagel was director of the law library and an associate professor at the University of Oklahoma. He has also served as the assistant law librarian at Columbia Law School and as the public services librarian at Golden Gate University. Dean Pagel is active in the America Association of Law Libraries and he has written many articles on law library management issues, legal bibliography, labor law research, and immigration law research. Dean Pagel also chaired the Contemporary Social Problems SIS (Later SR-SIS) 1986-1987, in which capacity he proposed the amendment to Article 9 of the AALL bylaws to include “sexual orientation.” (See the Resolutions section of this handout)

Ms. Ann Puckett
Director of the Law Library and Professor of Law and University of Georgia
Ann Puckett has been a professor of law and director at the University of Georgia School Of Law Alexander Campbell King Law Library since 1994. Before joining UGA, she was the director of the law library and professor at South Texas College of Law. She is an expert in legal research and library management, and teaches a seminar on law and disability. Puckett is a nationally recognized leader in law library management and has served as an executive board member of the American Association of Law Libraries. In 1999, Puckett helped research the briefs for the plaintiffs and amici in Olmstead v. L.C. This case resulted in the Supreme Court’s decision that mentally disabled persons are entitled to treatment in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. She also serves on the Human Rights Committee of Georgia Options in Community Living. During the academic years of 2003-2004 and 2004-2005, Puckett served as a faculty fellow for UGA’s Institute on Human Development and Disability. She has also been a board liaison of AALL’s Diversity Committee, Mentoring and Retention Committee, and SR-SIS, which she chaired in 1985, the year the SCLGI was formed.

Posted by embs0001 at July 15, 2005 12:06 AM