------------------------------------------------------------------------- MIDWEST NETWORKING PROJECT: UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO CCSLGBI -- COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKING SUBCOMMITTEE ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Data Base File: Washburn University, Topeka ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 From: Kevyn Jacobs Subject: "Constructing Change: Seeking Our Human Rights" conference in Topeka April 6th NEWS RELEASE March 6, 1996/For immediate release Nationally known activists to speak at human rights conference Two nationally known activists who are working to change the legal position of gays and lesbians in the United States will speak at an upcoming human rights conference at Washburn University in Topeka - an event organizers hope will help to combat the intense homophobia and repression most lesbian and gay Topekans face. Evan Wolfson, an attorney handling the Hawaii same-sex marriage case, and Ruthan Robson, a leading lesbian legal theorist, will speak at "Constructing Change: Seeking Our Human Rights" conference on April 6. The conference is for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered people, their friends, families and interested professionals. Robson, an attorney on the faculty of CUNY Law School in New York, is best known for her groundbreaking 1992 non-fiction book "Lesbian (Out)Law: Survival Under the Rule of Law." A prolific writer, Robson focuses on how Lesbians can use the law without being used by it. In addition to working to legalize same-sex marriages, Wolfson, a senior staff attorney at Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, is involved in the nationwide fight to overturn state sodomy laws and to protect the rights of gays and lesbians in the military. The conference is sponsored by the Washburn Law Student Gay and Lesbian Network at the Washburn Law School. In addition to sponsoring the conference, students in the organization are working with the American Civil Liberties Union to overturn Topeka's same-sex sodomy ordinance. Karen Eager, president of the law group, said that although legal issues are the primary focus of the conference, there will also be sessions on spirituality, relationships and personal identities. Such topics are important because of the intense homophobia present in Topeka, she said. "Over the years, Topeka has taken many hits for not being in the forefront of gay and lesbian rights issues and community organizing," Eager said. "The gay and lesbian law students want to dispel that notion by offering this comprehensive conference." Charlene Smith, a professor of law at Washburn and one of the student law group's faculty advisers, said Topeka is often considered to be synonymous with Fred Phelps and his anti-gay picketers. "Those outside of Topeka believe that Phelps' influence undermines any opportunity for gay organizing and activism," Smith said. "If anything, the presence of Phelps makes conferences like this even more important for Topekans." Registration for the conference is only $15 if made by April 3. Lunch is included. Continuing legal education credits are pending for attorneys from Kansas and Missouri for an additional $25 fee. Following the conference at 8 p.m. in the University Theatre will be "An Evening of Queer Humor" featuring Kansas City's Pop Culture (of 10 Percent Review fame) and Annette Billings, a Topeka performance artist. Pop Culture's Kimberli Kircher-Mathews will perform "Music of Marilyn." A $2 donation is suggested. For more information, contact Sam Van Leeuwen at 232-3100 or Charlene Smith at 231-1010, ext. 1665. ---------------------------------(end)---------------------------------