Featured
WLALA President 2022-2023
June is Pride month. I was looking forward to celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, but instead I’m reading about the anti-Pride protests at Saticoy Elementary School. I found the statement released by the Chief Impact Officer of the LGBT Center of Los Angeles helpful in understanding the protests in the overall context of what is happening nationwide. I think of the impact that such ignorance and hate must have on the 300,000+ children with same sex parents in this country and on their mental and emotional health. According to the Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year and 60% of LGBTQ youth who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to receive it.
Instead of celebrating, I’m reading about the record number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills being introduced across the country. This includes 300+ education related anti-LGBTQ+ bills that include “forced outing” bills — these would require teachers to alert parents when a student starts using another name or pronouns different than those assigned at birth, without the consent of the student. It includes bills criminalizing gender affirming-care for trans youth. This assault on education, healthcare, and other civil rights is real. One of our most vulnerable communities is under attack.
What can we do? How can we be effective allies? Below are some suggested resources and action items.
Educate
Listen to this short take on the context of current anti-LGBTQ+ legislation: https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2023/06/02/pride-celebrations-anti-lgbtq
Mental Health: https://www.statnews.com/2023/05/01/mental-health-lgbtq-youth/
Gender-Inclusive Reproductive Rights Advocacy: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/10/abortion-law-trans-inclusive-advocacy.html
Donate
Show Up
On June 14, 2023, WLALA is co-sponsoring the Italian American Lawyers Association Dinner for Pride month. Register here: https://iala38.wildapricot.org/page-1836071
On June 29, 2023, WLALA’s Solo/Small Firm Committee is hosting a fundraiser to benefit LGBTQ+ youth in Long Beach. Register here: https://wlala.org/event/wlala-and-wlba-mixer/
WLALA stands in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in this time of crisis. We hear you. We see you. We are here for you.
Janet Hong
President, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
Inner City Law Center
Inner City Law Center (ICLC) fights for housing and justice for low-income tenants, working-poor families, immigrants, people who are disabled or living with HIV/AIDS, and homeless veterans. As the only full-time legal-services provider located on Skid Row, ICLC advocates for equitable housing policies and provides legal services to prevent and end homelessness.
The Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA) has not only served as a dedicated pro bono partner on ICLC’s housing work, but the WLALA Foundation has also sponsored WLALA fellows to work with ICLC’s Homeless Veterans Project on issues affecting women veterans, including those who have been victims of military sexual trauma, as well as with ICLC’s Preventing and Ending Homelessness Project, where they address a variety of legal issues that create barriers to stable housing.
These exceptional WLALA fellows have passionately worked alongside ICLC attorneys to reduce barriers to income and housing stability for Los Angeles County’s most vulnerable residents.
ADDRESS 634 S. Spring St., Ste. 902
Los Angeles, CA 90014
EMAIL info@wlala.org
FAX (213) 892-8948
ADDRESS 634 S. Spring St., Ste. 902
Los Angeles, CA 90014
EMAIL info@wlala.org
All Rights Reserved