Almost a year ago, the current officers of OUTlaw, WVU Law’s student organization forLGBT allies, met to discuss the group’s plans for the upcoming school year. We exchanged ideas, hopes, and since our faculty advisor is Dean Jennifer Powell-a lot of laughs, too (including the picture at the bottom!) The major takeaway from the meeting was that we wanted to make a splash at the school. On  February 18 at 6pm in the Lugar Courtroom of the College of Law, we are unleashing a tsunami.

OK, so maybe I wax poetic. But, we are very excited to welcome Paul M. Smith, the attorney who successfully argued Lawrence v. Texas at the Supreme Court of the United States.  Yes, that Lawrence . In case you need to be refreshed on what the case was about (and if casebriefs.com is down), Lawrence is the landmark gay rights case that struck down laws that effectively criminalized same-sex relationships. Mr. Smith will present his lecture “Gay Rights in the Supreme Court from Lawrence to Perry” and will even offer a brief Q&A session at the end.

THE IMPORTANCE OF LAWRENCE IS MORE PRONOUNCED THAN EVER, AS ITS OPINION SETS UP THE BASIS FOR MANY ARGUMENTS FOR LGBT RIGHTS IN AMERICA, INCLUDING THE PROP 8 AND DOMA CASES THAT ARE ABOUT TO BE ARGUED AT THE SUPREME COURT.

WVU Law students and the public will have an unprecedented opportunity to hear Mr. Smith speak about the history of Lawrence and the future of gay rights in America that case will continue to help create.

Delegate Stephen Skinner will introduce Mr. Smith. Delegate Skinner is West Virginia’s first openly gay state representative and a respected alumnus of WVU Law. Notably, Delegate Skinner is the founder of Fairness West Virginia, the state’s leading civil rights advocacy organization dedicated to fair treatment and equal rights for LGBT West Virginians.

The members of OUTlaw are excited to hear these accomplished individuals speak, and we hope to welcome as many people as we can fit in Lugar. A lot of students and faculty at this school have worked hard to make this happen, and we are thankful to them for making our dream a reality. We look forward to seeing you all there!