Walsh to Speak on the Georgetown University Gay Rights Case

Walter J. Walsh, University of Washington School of Law, will speak on Monday, April 18 about his book-length analysis of the opinion in Gay Rights Coalition v. Georgetown University, a 1987 decision that, as an announcement explains,

was a forerunner of today's debates about the conflict between religious liberty and gay equality norms. The case arose when gay student organizations accused the University of violating the D.C. anti-discrimination law when it refused to grant them registered student organization status. In an opinion by Judge Julia Cooper Mack, the D. C. Court of Appeals ruled that the University could not be forced to grant the gay group formal recognition, but compelling it to grant them the same tangible benefits as all other RSOs. 536 A.2d 1. At the time of the decision, Professor Walsh clerked for Judge Mack.

Walsh will speak in Professor Nan Hunter's Sexuality and Law class from 1:20 to 3:20 pm in Room 201 of McDonough Hall at the Georgetown University Law Center, 600 New Jersey Ave. NW., Washington, DC.