Creating Change Workshop: SMUG v. Lively, Exportation of Homophobia and Human Rights Law

Date 

Add to My Calendar Friday, January 31, 2014 12:00am

Location 

Join CCR at Creating Change 2014, The National Conference on LGBT Equality and the largest gathering of activists, organizers and leaders in the LGBT movement. CCR Senior Staff Attorney Pamela Spees and CAAAV Member and CCR's Meejin Richart will co-facilitate a 90-minute workshop alongside CCR partner Holly Richardson from Stop the Hate & Homophobia Coalition of Western Massachusetts.

Workshop Description: U.S.-based extremists are traveling the globe in an effort to criminalize and marginalize LGBTQI communities and their advocacy work. In solidarity, U.S.-based advocates must understand how this anti-gay activity violates national and international laws. Using the lawsuit against Scott Lively as a case study, we will workshop the human rights framework that protects sexual orientation and gender identity. In particular, participants will learn about persecution and efforts to confront it at its sources in the U.S.

What: Anatomy of a Persecution: The case against Scott Lively and how to practically apply human rights law in the fight against the exportation of homophobia workshop
Where: Hilton of the Americas Hotel conference center in Houston, TX Room 343A
When: Friday, January 31st at 10:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Pam Spees, Senior Staff Attorney, Center for Constitutional Rights, lead attorney on Sexual Minorities Uganda v. Scott Lively. The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) filed a landmark federal lawsuit on behalf of Sexual Minorities Uganda, a non-profit umbrella organization for LGBTI advocacy groups in Uganda, against U.S.-based anti-gay evangelical Scott Lively in March 2012. The suit alleges that Lively’s involvement in anti-gay efforts in Uganda, including his active participation in the conspiracy to strip away fundamental rights from LGBTI persons, constitutes persecution. In August 2013, the judge ruled in favor of the case moving forward in what was hailed as a historic decision for LGBTI rights around the world.

Meejin Richart, Member of CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities, Leadership Committee of Peoples' Justice for Community Control and Police Accoutability, Coordinator of Poongmul Movement Builders, member of Bushwick CopWatch team and works at the Center for Constitutional Rights. Her work is committed to building leadership of queer, trans, and people of color communities to achieve racial and economic justice through community engagement.

Last modified 

January 29, 2014