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This year, celebrating Pride felt like a necessary act of defiance and rebellion. So we raised our voices, reserved a table at the Capital Pride Festival, and spent time connecting with our community.
We met people from all over the country, including places that are actively targeting LGBTQ+ individuals with dangerous and discriminatory legislation. It was a chance to hear their concerns and to share the ways our work is making a difference in their community.
Our work doesn't end after Pride Month. We're continuing to take on high-impact legal cases, and we're not just fighting for our clients — we fight for outcomes that benefit the communities around the clients and establish precedents that safeguard the civil justice system.
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Thank you to our volunteers, which included Public Justice staff and their partners. And thank you to everyone who stopped and chatted with us -- and to all those who help make our work possible each and every day.
In solidarity,
The Public Justice Team
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Couldn't make it to our booth? You can still buy Public Justice's staff-designed Uplift LGBTQ+ Students shirts! | |
Public Justice Celebrates Pride in Washington D.C. | |
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By Sara Jex
Development Communications Manager
Earlier this month, Public Justice tabled at the Capital Pride Festival in Washington D.C. in celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.
After setting up our booth, I hurried to the rooftop of the National Gallery of Art across the street to capture a photo of our staff waving at me, setting a lighthearted tone for a day brimming with community, camaraderie, and care. From that vantage point, I took a moment to take in the quiet streets, soon to be packed with visitors from across the world. It was a truly special moment.
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A view of the festival from the National Gallery of Art rooftop; Development Communications Manager Sara Jex and Director of Foundation Relations Holly Tippett. | |
Throughout the day, we engaged with many educators, students, attorneys, law students, and advocates — some of whom were visiting from states with deeply conservative policies like Florida and Alabama. They were all eager to share our Uplift LGBTQ+ Students stickers, tote bags, and other items, signaling solidarity and sending a defiant message to the lawmakers advancing a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the nation. | |
Public Justice's Executive Director Paul Bland, Holly Tippett, and Staff Attorney Charles Moore chat with supporters. | |
We were honored to share the impactful work of our Students' Civil Rights Project, which recently achieved a significant civil rights victory for LGBTQ+ students. We helped represent Nigel Shelby, an openly gay Black teenager who tragically died by suicide after enduring relentless homophobic and racist bullying at his Alabama high school. Our team compelled the school district, which serves thousands of students and families, to implement a series of policy and training reforms to better protect LGBTQ+ students like Nigel for years to come. | |
Public Justice's Director of Meetings & Events Susan Gombert and Holly Tippett; Senior Human Resources Manager Michelle Mediavilla and Charles Moore. | |
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Just a few days after the festival, we received news of another monumental triumph for the LGBTQ+ community. Last summer, we filed an amicus brief in support of Michael Grabowski, a student-athlete who faced harassment from his teammates due to his perceived sexual orientation. He was kicked off the University of Arizona's cross-country team when he reported the mistreatment. In March, our Staff Attorney Alexandra Brodsky argued before the Ninth Circuit on behalf of the amici. On June 13, the Ninth Circuit ruled that schools have a legal obligation to address harassment based on both real and perceived sexual orientation, adopting many of the arguments in our brief.
This groundbreaking decision is cause to celebrate — for Michael, and for LGBTQ+ students nationwide.
As we approach Independence Day, it is crucial to center the fight for freedom within historically and presently oppressed groups, including people within the LGBTQ+ community. Pride extends far beyond a month of protest, joy, and celebration — it's an ongoing fight and persistent hope for respect, dignity, and a better future for us all. Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth.
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More About Grabowski v. Arizona Board of Regents
Michael, represented by Arizona attorney William Walker, sued the school under Title IX, a law against sex discrimination in federally funded schools. Title IX requires schools to address sex-based harassment by students or teachers and forbids them from retaliating against students who report that harassment.
The trial court rejected Michael’s argument that Bostock v. Clayton County — the Supreme Court case holding that the employment law Title VII prohibits anti-LGBTQ+ harassment — applies equally to Title IX. The case was appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In an amicus brief and oral arguments before the Ninth Circuit, we argued that Bostock means Title IX prohibits anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, and so schools must protect, rather than punish, students who experience harassment based on their real or perceived sexual orientation.
On June 13, the Ninth Circuit was clear in its ruling: because of Bostock, “discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a form of sex-based discrimination under Title IX.” Although the opinion does not discuss the rights of transgender students, its reasoning establishes that Title IX prohibits anti-trans discrimination as well. The Ninth Circuit also explained that Bostock and Title IX protect students, like Michael, who are harassed based on their "perceived sexual orientation, as opposed to actual sexual orientation."
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Ohio State University Abuse Case Will Proceed After Supreme Court Denies School’s Petition | |
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Public Justice and its co-counsel represent over 100 survivors of sexual abuse by Ohio State University (OSU) doctor Richard Strauss. They are among the hundreds and hundreds of men and boys sexually abused by Dr. Strauss while he was employed by Ohio State. We are thrilled to share the news that the U.S. Supreme Court has denied Ohio State University’s cert petition. OSU had asked the Court to review a Sixth Circuit decision to allow our clients’ lawsuits against the school to move ahead. Now that the Supreme Court has declined to review that decision, we look forward to returning to the trial court, having our clients’ stories heard, and gathering further evidence of OSU’s widespread cover-up of Dr. Strauss’s serial predation.
For decades, OSU has attempted to run out the clock on its accountability and protect its reputation with actions aimed at hiding its role in perpetuating the serial sexual abuse that OSU students and others experienced on the university’s watch. Now, after more than forty years, we are one step closer to justice for the survivors and to bringing about meaningful change for current and future generations of OSU students.
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Tell Congress: Pass the Equality Act!
In June 2020, the Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton County established protections for LGBTQ people under federal law, aiding community members who faced bigotry and intolerance in the workplace. The Equality Act (H.R.5) would take these protections a step further and amend the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination against gay and transgender people in public accommodations and federal programs. Americans in every state – regardless of religion, party affiliation, and economic status – broadly support this measure.
The Equality Act addresses important issues fundamental to Public Justice’s mission:
- When Congress wanted to protect LGBTQ students, we gave them our support.
- Through our Gender & Sexual Violence work, we’ve defended LGBTQ students against harassment and assault in schools.
- We fought efforts by the Department of Health & Human Services to erase trans, nonbinary and intersex people.
In a year marked by rising discrimination against the LGBTQ community in America, the passage of the Equality Act is critical to securing a safe future for gay and transgender people. That’s why we’re asking Congress to pass the Equality Act — and why you should, too. Call (202) 224-3121 and tell your Senator to vote YES on H.R.5.
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Visit Public Justice at Lavender Law in Chicago!
We're excited to participate in the LGBTQ+ Bar's Annual Lavender Law Conference & Career Fair in Chicago, IL from July 24–26.
We look forward to engaging with LGBTQ+ law students and legal professionals from across the country, sharing insights about the field, our work, and career opportunities.
If you'll be attending, please reach out to Kelly Simon at [email protected]. We'd love to connect with you during the event!
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Are you a student interested in learning more about Public Justice?
We invite you to kickstart your career, advocacy, and network by joining us as a Public Justice Student member! Click here to learn more about our growing student membership program, which aims to uplift the next generation of public interest leaders.
Interested in sponsoring a student's membership? Please contact Membership Manager Nikki Duffney at [email protected] or (202) 861-5253
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Meet the 2023 Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalists | |
Hill v. Ford Motor Co.
In August 2022, members of a Georgia jury delivered the largest verdict in state history when they imposed a $1.7 billion verdict on Ford Motor Co. for the corporation’s failure to address a known safety issue that led to the deaths of Kim and Adam Hill’s parents.
The team on this case was Laurie Ann Taylor, Daniel B. Philyaw, James E. Butler, Jr., Michael B. Terry, and Gerald Davidson, Jr.
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The Cases Against Alex Jones and His Companies
Family members of Sandy Hook shooting victims and their attorneys held conspiracy theorist Alex Jones accountable for the campaign of stochastic terrorism he waged against innocent families on his talk show InfoWars.
In Texas, attorneys Kyle Farrar, Wes Ball, Mark Bankston, and Bill Ogden of Farrar and Ball led a critical case against Jones; in Connecticut, attorneys Christopher M. Mattei, Joshua D. Koskoff, Alinor C. Sterling, Matt Blumenthal, Sarah Steinfeld, Colin Antaya, and Lorena Thompson of Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder, P.C. led another.
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Kamuda v.
Sterigenics, et al.
Lawyers achieved a landmark verdict of $363 million for Illinois resident Sue Kamuda after Sterigenics’ ethylene oxide emissions caused her to develop breast cancer in 2007.
The team at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. included Patrick A. Salvi II, Jennifer M. Cascio, and Lance D. Northcutt, who were assisted at trial by Shawn Collins of the Collins Law Firm, Scott Entin and Deanna Pihos of Miner Barnhill Galland.
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A Seat at the Table:
41st Annual Public Justice Gala & Awards
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Monday, July 17th | 6 p.m.
The Bellevue Hyatt | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Thank you to our generous 41st Annual Gala & Awards sponsors! | |
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Titanium – $25,000
Huntington Bank
Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder
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Gold – $15,000
Advocate Capital
Baron & Budd
Berger Montague PC
Consumer Litigation Associates
Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein
Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman
Tom and Meredith Sobol
Tycko & Zavareei LLP
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Silver – $10,000
A.B. Data
Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC
Epiq
Faraci Lange LLP/Weitz & Luxenberg
Ferrer, Poirot & Wansbrough
Kroll Business Services
Robins Kaplan, LLP
Varnell & Warwick, PA
Western Alliance Bank
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Bronze – $5,000
Angeion Group
Archer
Broughton Partners
Colson Hicks Eidson
Continental DataLogix
DISCO
International Media Group
JND Legal Administration
KCC
MODUS
RebuttalPR
Lee J. John & Associates, LLC
Sugarman Dahab
Top Class Actions
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Brass – $2,500
American Constitutional Society
The Cochran Firm
Dilworth Paxson LLP
Expert Institute
Girard Sharp
Hendler Flores Law, PLLC
The Impact Fund
Lexitas
Mustang Litigation Funding
Heather Pearson
Sauder Schelkopf, LLC
Richard Traulsen
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Copper – $1,000
Steve Herman
Loan Annex Worldwide
Angelica Ornelas
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New Members
Public Justice welcomes this month's new members — your commitment to our mission of combating injustice helps us reach our goals.
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Work With Us
Public Justice has open positions for staff, fellows, and externs.
Please share with your networks!
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