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Acknowledgements
The University of Richmond Law Review proudly presents its 2020 Symposium Issue—Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots: Reflecting on the Rise and Evolution of LGBTQ Activism and Rights in the Law. Annually, the Law Re- view hosts a Symposium that engages scholars and practitioners from the Richmond community and beyond in a robust discussion about current issues in the law. This year’s Symposium examined the rise and growth of LGBTQ rights from the momentous Stone- wall Riots to present day.
On October 11, 2019, the Law Review hosted a group of incredibly intelligent and passionate scholars and practitioners to discuss the evolution of LGBTQ rights in four general areas of the law– education and employment law, public accommodations law, criminal law, and family law and reproductive rights. Bradley Sears, Executive Director of the Williams Institute provided the keynote speech. The day proceeded with four panels; a lunchtime address, delivered by Claire Gastañaga of the Virginia ACLU; and closing remarks, given by Shannon Minter, Legal Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. The Law Review is honored to have brought together such a broad array of prominent legal scholars and practitioners to speak on these important and timely topics. Each speaker highlighted just how far LGBTQ rights have come since the Stonewall Riots, while cautioning that there is still work to be done to obtain equality in the law. Thank you for spending your valuable time with us.
Many of the speakers converted their Symposium presentations into written word for publication in the Symposium edition of the Law Review. We thank Professor Marie-Amélie George of Wake Forest University Law School, Professor Anthony Michael Kreis of Chicago-Kent College of Law, Ms. Collen M. Quinn of Quinn Law Centers, Professor Elizabeth Sepper of the University of Texas at Austin School of Law, Professor Deborah Dinner of Emory University School of Law, Professor Kyle C. Velte of the University of Kansas School of Law, Professor Jordan Blair Woods of the University of Arkansas School of Law, Doctor Carrie L. Buist of Grand Valley State University School of Criminal Justice, Co-Dean and Professor Kimberly Mutcherson of Rutgers Law School, and Professor Dara E. Purvis of Penn State Law. Each piece is an invaluable contribution to the study of LGBTQ rights and brings to light critical issues that deserve the attention of the legal community.
The Law Review would like to express its gratitude to the professors at the University of Richmond Law School who helped get the Symposium on its feet and shape the contours of the legal discussions. To Professors Allison Tait and Meredith Harbach, thank you for helping us develop this important topic into a thoughtful scholarly event. To Professors Erin Collins, Jud Campbell, Allison Tait, and Luke Norris, thank you for contributing your time as moderators and providing thought-provoking questions and commentary during the panels.
Organizing and hosting the Symposium required substantial assistance from the administration, faculty, and Law Review members. We thank Mary Ruth Walters for her superb media skills and for handling many of the logistical details of the event. We also thank Leigh Deignan for managing our budgetary needs. A big thank you to Carl Hamm for contributing your expert multimedia skills to the Symposium, too. Without each of your essential contributions, the Symposium would not have been nearly as smooth and successful.
The Law Review is grateful to Dean Wendy Perdue for her continuous support of our scholarly pursuits. And, we wish to thank our faculty advisors, Professors Jessica Erickson and Carl Tobias, for their advice and guidance during the months leading up to the Symposium and throughout the publication process.
I extend my most gracious thank you to Glenice Coombs, the Law Review’s Legal Publication Coordinator. Glenice, thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge about organizing the Symposium with me. Your constant presence in the Law Review office is comforting and inspiring, and your expertise on the editing and publication process is unmatched. You add incredible value to our organization, and our books would be subpar without you.
Athena Defour
Vol. 54 Symposium Editor