QLaw: the GLBT Bar Association of Washington QLaw News

UW Dean Kellye Y. Testy Elected to QLaw Association Board

Richard — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 21:38:00 GMT

Kellye Testy, dean of the University of Washington School of Law, has been nominated to the QLaw Association board as of June, 2011.

A prolific scholar, outstanding teacher, and experienced dean, Testy came to the University of Washington in 2009. Her research and scholarship focus on contracts, corporate governance, business entities, securities regulation, gender and law, and economic justice. She is known throughout academic and legal communities for her dedication to the rule of law and its commitment to justice and equality.

Dean Testy graduated summa cum laude from the University of Indiana School of Law where she was editor-in-chief of the Indiana Law Journal, John H. Edwards University Fellow, Chancellor's Scholar, and member of the Order of the Coif. During law school, she worked for Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago, and after graduation, she clerked for Judge Jesse E. Eschbach, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. At the end of her clerkship in 1992, she began her academic career. She joined the faculty of Seattle University Law School and became its dean in 2005.

In 2007, Dean Testy has been honored with the President's Award from the Washington State Bar Association and the President's Award from the Washington Women Lawyers. The previous year, she received the President's Award from King County Women Lawyers and the Washington State Trial Lawyers Public Justice Award. She has received the Seattle University School of Law Outstanding Teacher Award three times.

Dean Testy is currently writing a casebook on corporate law and governance and a book on leadership. She serves on the American Association of Law Schools Committee on Recruitment & Retention of Minority Faculty, the American Bar Association Committee on Development and Committee on Curriculum, and the Board of Governors of the Society of American Law Teachers, the Board of the American Law Dean's Association, and the Law School Admissions Council's Diversity Committee.

Obama Administration Expands Family Leave to LGBT Parents

Michael Heath — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:37:28 GMT

The U.S. Labor Department's wage and hour division announced a rule clarification that allows LGBT workers to qualify for family leave to care for their nonbiological or nonadoptive children.

http://www.lambdalegal.org/news/pr/us_20100623_obama-expands-family-leave.html

New Policy on Gender Change in Passports Announced

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 10:59:31 GMT

Beginning June 10, when a passport applicant presents a certification from an attending medical physician that the applicant has undergone appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition, the passport will reflect the new gender. The guidelines include detailed information about what information the certification must include. It is also possible to obtain a limited-validity passport if the physician’s statement shows the applicant is in the process of gender transition. No additional medical records are required. Sexual reassignment surgery is no longer a prerequisite for passport issuance. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad can also be amended with the new gender.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/06/142922.htm

IRS recognizes California community property laws for domestic partners

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 10:57:01 GMT

In a significant move for same-sex couples, the Internal Revenue Service has decided to recognize California's community property law and treat the income earned by California registered domestic partners as community property income for federal income tax purposes.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/03/BUN31DOMRK.DTL#ixzz0qkGNkiNC

Link to IRS Private Letter Ruling: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-wd/1021048.pdf

Michigan Court Drops Bioterrorism Charge Based on Alleged HIV Status of Defendant

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:15:41 GMT

http://www.lambdalegal.org/news/pr/mi_20100603_lambda-legal-applauds.html

Lambda Legal filed an amicus brief in the matter, urging the court to drop the bioterrorism charge. The brief explains that the realities of HIV transmission risk do not support prosecuting Daniel Allen under a bioterrorism charge and that this charge leads to public misunderstanding of how HIV is transmitted, contributes to stigmatizing people with HIV and undermines important public health goals.

To read the amicus brief: http://www.lambdalegal.org/our-work/in-court/briefs/people-v-allen_mi_20100419_amicus-lambda-legal-et-al.html

The case is People v. Allen.

Obama extends certain benefits to same-sex domestic partners of federal employees

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:18:31 GMT

http://data.lambdalegal.org/in-court/downloads/exec_us_20100602_extension-of-benefits-to-same-sex-domestic-partners-of-federal-employees.pdf

Obama directs hospitals to respect patients' right to designate visitors

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:12:26 GMT

The President's memorandum to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services includes the following: HHS should promulgate rules for hospitals that receive Medicaid or Medicare funds that require them to respect the rights of patients to designate visitors. HHS should also take steps to ensure that such hospitals have adequate policies to respect the legal documents that some patients have designating who can make decisions for them if they are incapacitated. Finally, the President directs HHS to report back to him in 180 days with additional recommendations about actions it can take to address hospital visitation, medical decision-making and other health care issues that affect LGBT patients and their families.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/presidential-memorandum-hospital-visitation

http://www.lambdalegal.org/news/pr/us_20100415_president-obama-issues-memo-on-lgbt-health-issues.html

California Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Lesbian Denied Infertility Treatment by Doctors

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:06:05 GMT

(San Francisco, August 18, 2008) — The California Supreme Court has ruled that a group of doctors cannot use their religion as a legal excuse for violating the civil rights of their former patient — an Oceanside lesbian — to whom they refused an infertility treatment based on their religious views about her sexual orientation.

http://www.lambdalegal.org/news/pr/california-supreme-court-benitez-decision.html

Lesbian Couple Sues Blue Cross

Michael Heath — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:24:16 GMT

A Buffalo, New York lesbian couple is suing Blue Cross & Blue Shield accusing the insurer of contravening state policy in denying spousal benefits.

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon08/07/071008buf.htm

Heir's Adoption Of Lesbian Lover Annulled In Maine

Michael Heath — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:14:25 GMT

(Portland, Maine) An adult adoption involving lesbian partners and a claim to a share of a family fortune built on IBM has been annulled, bouncing the case to Maine's highest court.

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon08/07/070708heir.htm

Federal Court Overturns Verdict In Lesbian Discrimination Case

Michael Heath — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:26:49 GMT

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon08/04/042508prin.htm

Federal Court Allows Student To Wear Anti-Gay T-Shirt On Day Of Silence

Michael Heath — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:52:40 GMT

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon08/04/042408ts.htm