Join our esteemed panelists for a conversation about the legal landscape surrounding gender-affirming care in California. Topics will include the legal arguments, strategies, and implications of the anticipated U.S. Supreme Court decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti; the current federal administration’s policies on gender-affirming care; California’s response to ongoing national attacks on gender-affirming care access; and the on-the-ground realities for recipients and providers of gender-affirming care in California. 

Panelists:

Jessica Clarke (she/her) is the Robert C. and Nanette T. Packard Professor of Law at USC Gould School of Law.  She writes on antidiscrimination law, with a focus on sex, gender, and sexuality.  Her work has appeared in law journals including the California Law Review, Columbia Law Review, Duke Law Journal, Harvard Law Review, New York University Law Review, Northwestern University Law Review, and Yale Law Journal, as well as other outlets including the New England Journal of Medicine, Los Angeles Times and Harvard Business Review. She has twice received the Dukeminier Award for the best legal scholarship on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Pelecanos (they/them) is the Daniel H. Renberg Fellow at Lambda Legal, the nation’s oldest and largest legal organization working for full recognition of the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV. Pelecanos’ work encompasses litigation, education, and policy advocacy. Their current litigation centers on racial and gender equity, access to gender-affirming care for minors, facilities access for transgender people, and appropriate housing in carceral settings. Presently, they serve on several boards, including the National Trans Bar Association. Pelecanos continues to build strong community relationships, both in California and nationally, to further the goal of liberation for all.

Riley Robertson (they/them) (moderator) is a Health Care & Life Sciences attorney at Jones Day and a member of the CSHA Diversity Task Force.