The National LGBT Bar Association would like to invite you to a call-in that will discuss current issues affecting adoption by members of the LGBT community. The call will be co-sponsored by the Family Equality Council, a national organization committed to supporting LGBT families across the country, and will feature speakers from the Family Law Institute, a group of experienced law practitioners jointly supported by the LGBT Bar and the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
November is National Adoption Month. More than 100,000 children are currently in foster care, waiting to find permanent, loving families. Unfortunately, there are numerous barriers in place that prevent LGBT families from adopting these children. Experts on adoption law will discuss the laws in place that impede same-sex couples from creating families as well as recent litigation challenging those policies and allowing LGBT couples to become loving parents. Speakers will cover topics such as the Indian Child Welfare Act, the Adar decision, aLouisianacourt ruling allowing adoption by a same-sex couple, and state by state laws for adoptive parents.
Please join the National LGBT Bar Association as we raise awareness about adoption law and promote National Adoption Day.
If you are unable to listen to the call live, a recording will be available shortly afterwards.
Adoption Law Call-In
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
3:00 – 4:00pm EST
Speakers include:
- Jennifer Chrisler: Ms. Chrisler is the executive director of the Family Equality Council and is one of the foremost national experts on modern families. She has been featured on numerous television shows and in print media as an advocate for family equality including Good Morning America, NPR and the New York Times.
- Deb Guston: Ms. Guston is the managing partner of Guston & Guston LLP. She has worked for over 20 years on the rights and needs of the LGBT community. Ms. Guston practices in the areas of adoption law, estate planning and family law, among many others.
- Denise Seidelman: Ms. Seidelman is a partner in Rumbold & Seidelman. She is a regular speaker at the Adoptive Parents Committee annual conference and contributes to the American Fertility Association newsletter on adoption related issues. She graduated from theUniversity ofPennsylvania and the Washington College of Law.
- Debbie Steincolor: Ms. Steincolor has her own practice devoted to adoption and assisted reproduction law. She frequently provides workshops at adoption conferences and is a member of theAmericanAcademy of Adoption Attorneys.