Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues: Embracing the Diversity of Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities

History and Activities

Approved as a standing committee of the AALL Contemporary Social Problems (now Social Responsibility) Special Interest Section, founder Ca

rol 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, Secretary and Treasurer 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

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.

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 lesbian 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.

Annual Meeting Educational Programs Sponsored by the Standing Committee

1986

Lobbying for Controversial Causes: Words from the Front Line

1989

Family Law Issues

Pro-bono Work in Law Firms and the Impact on the Library

1990

Crime and Prejudice: Hate Crime in America

1991

AIDS: The Continuing Challenge

1992

The Lavender Library: Developing a Lesbian and Gay Legal Collection

Lesbians and Gays in the Military

1993

HIV and AIDS: The Next Generation is Now

1995

Out in the Workplace: Current Legal Issues

Domestic Partner Benefits: Narratives, Overview and Status Report

1996

Human Rights Worldwide: Sexual Minorities

Transgender Law Comes Out of the Closet: Delivering a Hidden Message

1998

Each Jurisdiction Has Its Own Horizon: Gay Rights is a Local Issue

2000

Hate Crimes: Examining the Issues

2001

Pornography on the Internet: A New Reality

Gender Outlaws: Sex Roles and the Performance of Gender in the Workplace

2002

State of Civil Unions: a Legal Update on the Impact of Vermont Civil Unions

2003

QueerKids Law: A Look at the Legal Needs of Lesbian and Gay Youth

Today, these goals continue to be achieved through the standing committee's impressive record of annual meeting educational programs, publications, AALL professional activity, and social opportunities. The activities of the standing committee are guided by Article VII of the SR-SIS bylaws.

Current/Recent Work:

•May, 2007 Report (pdf) of the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Name Change (of the Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues).

Grants:

The Alan Holoch Memorial Grants may be awarded each year by the Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues. The $500 grants to assist members in attending the Annual Meeting are funded by a generous bequest made by Alan Holoch, who died in 1991, having served as treasurer of AALL and as Director of the Ohio State University Law Library. (stay tuned for 2010 applications!)

Past Holoch Grant Recipients:

2009 - Pam Brannon

2008 - Lee Van Duzer and Meg Butler

2007 - Jim Gernert

2006 - Druet Cameron Klugh

2005 - Courtney Selby

2004 - Scott Burgh

2003 - not awarded

2002 - Ron Wheeler

Publications:
In 2006, the Standing Committee published Sexual Orientation and the Law: A Research Bibliography, as AALL Publication #74 (ISBN 083770166X; 9780837701660). Updates will be posted online at www.lgbtbib.org.

Collage is the newsletter of the group.

SCLGI Officers:
2009/10 Chair: Meg Butler, New York Law School
2008/09 Chair: Meg Butler, New York Law School
2007/08 Chair: Jorge Juarez, Santa Clara University
2006/07 Chair: Courtney Selby, Collection Development/Instructional Services Librarian, University of Tulsa
2005/06 Chair: Stephanie Davidson, Head of Public Services at the University of Illinois College of Law
2004/05 Chair: Jeffrey Berns, Library Manager at Spiegel & McDiarmid
2003/04 Chair: Scott Fisher, Director of Library Services at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer