China's Comrades: New Developments in LGBT Rights

Social and political attitudes towards sexual orientation and gender
identity are changing rapidly in China.  Vibrant new LGBT networks
have sprung up around the country.  Authorities tacitly accept a
degree of activism by social organizations working on LBGT issues.
And official attitudes toward the legal status of LGBT individuals and
communities are evolving, as represented by the first tentative (but
unsuccessful) legislative proposals to recognize gay marriage. At the
same time, activists report widespread discrimination against LGBT
people, and Chinese media have reported on several hate crimes in
recent years.

What do these changes signify?  This talk will feature American and
Chinese legal experts and NGO activists on the legal status of the
LGBT communities in China, and efforts by Chinese activists to
strengthen anti-discrimination and promote social inclusion.

Speakers:

John C. Balzano, Visiting Assistant Professor, Boston University School of Law

Zhou Dan,  legal advocate and Executive Director of Yu Dan, a Shanghai-based organization with a mission to achieve positive perception of, and full recognition of, gay rights in China

Sam Zhao, leading lesbian activist and co-founder and co-editor of Les Plus, mainland China's first lesbian magazine

Sponsors:

Leitner Center for International Law and Justice

Asia Catalyst

Fordham Asia Law Society

Fordham OUTLaws

CLE Credit:

1.5 CLE credits (1.0 Skills, 0.5 Ethics and Professionalism) will be available free of charge to lawyers working in the non-profit and public interest sectors. All other lawyers will be required to pay $90 to receive CLE credit. Please contact organizers for details and to arrange payment.