Experts panel to discuss sexual orientation discrimination, privacy

Sexual orientation discrimination and the right to privacy are among the topics to be discussed by a panel of experts at 4 p.m. Tuesday (4/1) in Drinko Hall, 55 W. 12th Ave.

The discussion will focus on Bowers v. Hardwick, a 1986 Georgia case, as well as Lawrence v. Texas, a case now before the U.S. Supreme Court that questions the constitutional validity of laws regarding same-sex partnerships.

Nationally-known speakers will give short presentations, which will be followed by a question-and-answer discussion session.
Participants are:

• Marc Spindelman, of the Moritz College of Law, is the author of “Reorienting Bowers v. Hardwick,” a 2001 North Carolina Law Review article that called for a re-examination of Bowers v. Hardwick.

• Anthony Varona, of Pace Law School in New York, is the former chief counsel of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian and gay political organization.

• J. Paul Oetken, of Debevoise and Plimpton in New York, is co-author with Georgetown Law Center Professor Chai Feldblum of the amicus brief submitted in the Lawrence case on behalf of gay lawyers’ groups.

The forum, which is open to the public, will be moderated by Moritz College of Law Professor Sarah Cole. The college also will offer a live webcast of the event, accessible from http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/webcast. The broadcast will be archived and may be viewed at a later time from the same location.

WHAT: A panel of experts will discuss sexual orientation discrimination and the right to privacy

WHEN: 4 p.m. Tuesday (4/1)

WHERE: Drinko Hall, 55 W. 12th Ave.

WHY: To offer perspective on sexual orientation discrimination and privacy, issues that are currently before the U.S. Supreme Court