Gender & Sexuality Law Blog

As many now know, CIA Director and retired four-star Army General David Petraeus has resigned his post at the CIA on account of newly emerging information that he had what the media calls an “extra-marital” affair with Paula Broadwell, who is also married.  Broadwell is the author of the flattering Petraeus biography All In: The […]

The essay below written by Professor Katherine Franke appeared in Tikkun magazine in a debate on the meaning of Pinkwashing in Israel/Palestine: I applaud Tikkun’s willingness to provide a forum for the discussion of a complex range of perspectives on LGBT rights in Israel/Palestine. The opinion pieces written by Richard Silverstein and Arthur Slepian, along […]

As Columbia students and workers get ready to join the National Student Walkout today in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, my thoughts have obviously been centered around economic injustices lately – whether it’s the arrest of 700 Brooklyn Bridge marchers over the weekend, while bank CEOs who wrecked the economy remain free; or the horrific […]

When Tanya L. Domi, an Adjunct Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, joined the Women’s Army Corps 37 years ago as a “slick sleeve” Private in 1974, she had no idea how the “Gay Ban” military policy which preceded “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell ” by 52 years would affect her life. Its ultimate repeal, fought successfully by a new generation of […]

The Army, Navy and Air Force have all created new websites with official information about DADT.  The Navy’s, called ”Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Implementation Information” is here, the Army’s is here, and the Air Force’s is here. Given that Columbia University has now signed an agreement with the Navy to bring NROTC (Naval Reserve […]

Last Thursday, Columbia University President Lee Bollinger, stood on the deck of the U.S.S. Iwo Jima with the Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, and signed an agreement to bring NROTC (Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps) back to Columbia after an almost 40 year ban.  President Bollinger’s formalization of an on-campus relationship with the Navy […]

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for up to date event listings! Friday, April 1st – Coalition for a Military Free Campus: “KEEP ROTC OUT OF COLUMBIA Rally” 12:45pm, outside the Law School entrance Columbia student protesters need your help, KEEP ROTC OUT OF COLUMBIA Rally, TODAY, Friday, April 1st, 12:45pm, outside the Law […]

Jamie Liew is Bethany Smith’s lawyer and an LL.M. Candidate at Columbia Law School.  She discusses Smith’s case below: Why would an American need to claim refugee status in Canada?  Sounds crazy?  Bethany Smith was 18 and unemployed when she joined the US military.  She is also a lesbian. While working as a mechanic for […]

Columbia University’s newly formed Task Force on Military Engagement is considering whether the University should reverse it’s 42 year old policy severing an on-campus relationship with ROTC.  (Columbia students who wish to enroll in ROTC can do so through Fordham’s program. and receive full financial and other benefits.) The University Senate, that has responsibility for […]

The US armed forces have returned to our campus for law student recruitment.  The military’s on-campus recruitment directly violates the Law School’s longstanding policy forbidding employers from recruiting on campus if they discriminate based on, inter alia, sexual orientation.  In response, the faculty members listed below have issued the following letter: We, the undersigned members […]