Center for Adoption Policy
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Second Annual Adoption Policy Conference

Friday, May 20, 2005
New York Law School

The Center for Adoption Policy,
The Evan B. Donaldson Institute, and
The Justice Action Center at New York Law School present:

Gay and Lesbian Adoption: Past, Present, and Future

Adoption law today reflects the dramatic changes in and growing inclusiveness of American society. This conference will focus on the history of gay and lesbian adoption struggles, the current state of the law, and prospects for legal reform. The conference will be held at New York Law School, 47 Worth Street in Tribeca, New York City. It is the second annual conference focusing on adoption policy.

Click here for more information and to register

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

All events will take place on Friday, May 20, 2005, in the Wellington Conference Center, 5th Floor, New York Law School.

9:15 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Welcome and Keynote Remarks

  • Diane B. Kunz, Center for Adoption Policy
  • Adam Pertman, Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute (EBD)
  • Arthur Leonard, New York Law School

10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Panel I: The Gay and Lesbian Family in the United States

  • Cynthia Russett, Yale University, Moderator
  • David Strah, Author, "Gay Fathers"
  • Judith Stacey, New York University, "On the Front Lines of the Family Wars"
  • Scott Ryan, Florida State University, "Gay Men and Lesbian Adoptive Parents: Who Are They?"
  • David Brodzinsky, Rutgers University and EBD, "EBD Survey of Adoption Agency Practice"

11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
Panel II: Roundtable on the Construction and Effect of Challenges to the Legislative and State Constitutional Bans on Gay and Lesbian Marriage and Adoption

  • Kris Franklin, New York Law School, Moderator
  • Greg Wallance, Kaye Scholer LLP, "Fifty-State Survey of Gay and Lesbian Adoption Law"
  • Leslie Cooper, American Civil Liberties Union, "Recent Challenges to Categorical Exclusions of Gay and Lesbian Adoptions and Fostering in Florida and Arkansas"
  • Shannon Minter, National Center for Lesbian Rights, "The California Frontier: Litigating Exclusions to Gay and Lesbian Adoption and Marriage"
  • Stuart Delery, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, "Appellate Litigation Challenging Gay and Lesbian Adoption"

1:15 p.m.-2:15 p.m.
Lunch break

2:15 p.m.-3:45 p.m.
Panel III: Gay, and Lesbian Adoption in the United States: A Primer

  • Jeanne Howard, Illinois State University and EBD, Moderator
  • Jane Aronson, World Wide Orphans, "Choices in Adoption by Gay and Lesbian Individuals and Families"
  • Rudy Estrada, LAMBDA Legal Defense and Education Fund, "LGBT Youth in Foster Care and Available for Adoption"
  • Sharon Rozina, The Kinship Center, "The Magic of Unending Committment"
  • Michael Colberg, Founding Co-Drector of the Center for Family Connection, currently in private practice in New York, "Being a Child-Centered LGBT Parent"

4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Discussion with Panelists and Audience: Current Issues

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION

New York Law School has been certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board as an Accredited Provider of Continuing Legal Education in the State of New York. This CLE program has been approved for newly admitted and experienced attorneys for a maximum of six CLE credits in Professional Practice. Cost for non-New York Law School alumni seeking CLE credit is $150. Cost for New York Law School alumni seeking CLE credit is $125. For individuals not seeking CLE credit, the fee is $35. There is no fee for current New York Law School students or faculty.

Registration: Please register online by visiting www.nyls.edu.

Tuition Assistance: Tuition assistance is available. For additional information, please review the CLE page of the New York Law School website.

Refunds: Written notice of cancellation must be received by New York Law School no later than three days before a CLE program offering for refund of the registration fee. A $25.00 processing fee will be deducted from the refund. No refunds will be issued after the start of the program.

All inquiries for this CLE program may be addressed by e-mail to ckendall@nyls.edu.

ACCESSIBILITY

New York Law School is wheelchair accessible. Please contact the Justice Action Center no later than one week prior to the event (212-431-2314 or ckendall@nyls.edu) regarding any additional accommodations you may need.