Geographical coverage: USA
Reading Fee: n/a
Accepts (genre): papers
Prize/Payment: undisclosed
Contact: brendanlantryjcred@gmail.com
Host: The Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development
Date: Friday, November 12, 2010
Location: St. John’s School of Law, Queens, NY
About the Symposium
On November 12, 2010, the Journal will hold a symposium devoted to the issues of marriage equality, marriage protection and same-sex marriage. Given that the Journal focuses on legal issues of racial, social and economic justice and is situated in a Catholic law school, it is well-positioned to present an in-depth discussion and have a full academic inquiry into the legal, secular and religious dimensions of these issues.
Invitation to Participate
The legalization of same-sex marriage has numerous legal, political, social, religious and secular implications. We invite you to participate in a multi-disciplinary exploration of this important topic that promises to be thoughtful, intellectually rigorous and provocative. We welcome a broad range of participants to share a variety of perspectives at the symposium, including scholars, practitioners, elected officials, activists, community leaders and students. We are especially interested in the constitutional, religious, political and other unique legal issues relating to marriage equality, marriage protection and same-sex marriage. We also encourage analyses focusing on the intersection of other gay civil rights issues and the specific issue of marriage equality, marriage protection and same-sex marriage.
Paper or panel topics should address the following areas of academic inquiry:
* In the state courts that have recognized or rejected the validity of same-sex marriage, are there common constitutional themes or trends in areas of equal protection, due process, or the right of privacy?
* How do the religious tenets of the major faith traditions bear upon the issue of same-sex marriage?
* Does the U.S.’s strong tradition of separation of church and state affect the ability of federal and state judiciaries to balance the legal protections of same-sex partners, while respecting the religious traditions of faith communities?
* What has been the evolution of LGBT civil rights in the U.S.? Abstracts should focus on the following issues: (1) the invalidation of anti-sodomy legislation; (2) employment discrimination legislation; (3) anti-hate-crime legislation; (4) the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and (5) any other issues dealing with LGBT civil rights.
* Do prohibitions against same-sex marriage violate the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution?
* Do the federal and state DOMA proposals violate the full faith and credit clause or other provisions of the U.S. Constitution?
* How can the traditional notions of marriage (i.e., between a man and a woman) harmonize with the movement towards same-sex marriage legalization?
* How does the doctrine of states’ rights bear upon the same-sex marriage argument?
* What are the rights and limitations when state legislatures or the public through state referenda decide the legality of same-sex marriage?
* Are domestic partnerships constitutionally sufficient to satisfy equal protection goals at the federal and state levels? In states that do not recognize same-sex marriage or domestic partnerships, are contracts negotiated between same-sex partners sufficient legal protection for same-sex partners?
* Did African American and Latino/a and Hispanic voters influence election outcomes in the 2004 general elections and the 2008 vote on Proposition 8 (California Marriage Protection Act) based on their negative reactions to the issue of marriage equality, as some commentators have suggested? Are these voters more likely to vote in favor of marriage protection in larger percentages than white and Asian American voters? What is the relationship between racial minorities and the LGBT community on the issue of Marriage Equality/Marriage Protection/Same Sex Marriage?
* How have the media covered the discussion and debate over same-sex marriage/ marriage equality/marriage protection? What stereotypes have the media fostered or dismantled about the legal and religious issues and the advocates on each side of the debate and discussion?
Submission Guidelines
If you would like to participate on a panel or speak at the symposium, please submit an abstract of 250 words or less through our online abstract submission form or by e-mail to brendanlantryjcred@gmail.com . The abstract submission deadline is August 12, 2010. We will notify all selected panelists and speakers by September 15, 2010. After the symposium, participants can submit an article to be selected for publication in the Journal of Civil Rights of Economic Development.
For more information on the symposium or its call for papers, please contact Brendan Lantry, Research and Symposium Editor for the Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development, at brendanlantryjcred@gmail.com or (718) 990-6074.
More information here.
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