As Fordham Law School celebrates Pride Month, we spoke with OUTLaws‘ chairs Maria Chrysanthem ’22 and Brandon Small ’23 about the organization’s objectives, the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in law school and the legal profession, and what’s in store for Pride Month and beyond.
Obviously, campus life was anything but typical this past year. What were some of OUTLaw’s objectives and accomplishments during the 2020-21 academic year despite social distancing?
MC: It was important to us to find ways to build community in such an isolating time because—at its heart—OUTLaws is an organization that provides resources for LGBTQ+ students and is a support system to help them throughout law school. We wanted to make sure that none of that was lost in this virtual setting, and I think we did accomplish that. We held a few socially distant picnics at Central Park [with students from all class years and the evening class present], trivia nights, virtual and in-person informal coffee chats with the OUTLaws board, and so much more throughout the year.
Another major goal was heightening the awareness of issues LGBTQ+ students face and their needs. We participated in discussions with the administration through monthly meetings with Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Diversity Kimathi Gordon-Somers and Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Kamille Dean. Mental health is a huge challenge in both the legal field and LGBTQ+ communities, and it was important for OUTLaws to bring that to the forefront with the administration. So, we co-hosted events that, for example, focused on LGBTQ+ lawyers sharing their stories of overcoming mental health challenges and facing imposter syndrome—as well as helped to be a catalyst in the offering of training for faculty and staff on LGBTQ+ sensitivity issues within law school. We were also part of discussions with administration about having more classes focused specifically on transgender legal issues.
BS: The picnics, in particular, were amazing because I, and other 1Ls, met upperclassmen. I knew going into this year that I probably wouldn’t be able to meet any 2Ls or 3Ls during the course of the year because of the online classes. So, this was a great way to break the ice, hang out, and be together in person.
MC: But, our biggest accomplishment was holding our annual symposium [held March 26]. It was a Herculean effort, but we were able to invite LGBTQ+ legal scholars from across the country to talk about the potential implementation of the passing of the Equality Act and how to navigate conservative courts with Trump-appointed judges.
OUTLaws also competed in Columbia Law’s inaugural LGBTQ+ Moot Court Competition in the spring semester. What was that experience like?
MC: To my knowledge, it was the first time in OUTLaws history that we participated in a moot court competition. Stephen Self ’22 and I, who are also on moot court, thought this would be a great opportunity for 1Ls. We coached Will Lanier ’23 and Lindsey Neuberger ’23, who had never mooted before—but they were so committed, dedicated, and enthusiastic with such a thirst for knowledge. Though our team didn’t advance to the finals, the 1Ls learned more about moot court in general and the competition gave them a head-start in what to expect when they try out for moot court in the future.
How do you plan to build on this year’s momentum for the 2021-22 year?
BS: I want to make sure we make the picnic a tradition moving forward as we continue to foster community. We also hope to hold more social events that celebrate the rising 2Ls and 3Ls for their resilience during the pandemic. Another reality that we may face is virtual events will probably not go away. So, we’d like to perfect the art of virtual events and use the platform to our advantage by continuing to “bring in” speakers who we wouldn’t normally have access to or who live on the other side of the country.
Another key objective is implementing more mentorship opportunities within OUTLaws. It’s not only about connecting 1Ls with 2Ls, but expanding that to include more involvement and chances for mentorship between 3Ls and 2Ls and even between 1Ls and 3Ls. We feel it’s important to also give 2L and 3L members equal attention, too, considering the pandemic’s ongoing circumstances.
What are the major LGBTQ+ issues within law schools and the legal profession?
MC: The world has changed in many ways, but there are still struggles LGBTQ+ individuals face in determining whether they’re going to come out in the workplace. Obviously, there are legal ramifications if you’re fired for being LGBTQ+, but people can still treat you differently and cut you out of things informally. Through an academic lens, transgender and gender non-conforming students face issues in the traditional law school setting. For example, it’s very common for professors to call people by their last names, which requires saying “mister,” “missus,” or “miss.” That doesn’t leave space for individuals who don’t identify within the gender binary.
There are also sensitive topics discussed in class, such as constitutional law and legislation and regulation, that—if not handled appropriately by a professor—can be upsetting for students and affect their ability to learn. It’s hard to thread the needle on what is a hearty academic discussion and what is a dehumanizing academic discussion. I think that’s something professors continuously have to confront and think about in their classes.
BS: Events like our annual symposium show the gap in terms of LGBTQ+ representation. Although it appears to be increasing incrementally, it’s still very low, especially in terms of LGBTQ+ judges and the like in the profession. And it’s hard for people to network and find jobs when there’s not really much of a community that’s being represented.
What’s in store for the organization this Pride Month and how do you plan to celebrate it?
BS: We’re thinking of hosting a meet-up in the week leading up to Pride Week [the last week of June] and are planning to share Pride-related posts on Instagram. Interested students should be on the lookout for details in the coming weeks. And we are also planning to submit written commentary in celebration of pride with Professors Landau, Cooper, and Capers about the LGBTQ+ experience at Fordham Law, which will also be shared in the coming weeks.
With that said, are there any other ways students can keep in touch with OUTLaws?
MC: Our Instagram is @fordham.outlaws and our Facebook is @fordhamoutlaws. They can also email us at outlaws@fordham.edu.