MAY MEETING OF LESBIAN & GAY RIGHTS CHAPTER of the ACLU of SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

"How well does the constitution protect lesbians and gays?"

			7pm THURSDAY MAY 18
			ACLU Building 1616 Beverly Blvd
			(Beverly Blvd and Union Place)


USC Law Professor ERWIN CHEMERINSKY will speak to LGRC on the Constitution
affects gays and lesbians. He will review changes that have occurred in the
Courts and the nation since the 1986 Bowers vs Hardwick decision in which the
United States Supreme Court denied that gays and lesbians have any rights to
privacy under the U.S. Constitution.

Professor Chemerinsky's discussion will include the recent decision by U.S.
District Court Judge Eugene Nickerson in the case beought by the ACLU and 
Lambda Legal Defense against Clinton's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
Chemerinsk will also give his analysis of the two lesbian and gay cases
currently before the U.S. Supreme Court: HURLEY V IRISH-AMERICAN GAY LESBIAN
AND BISEXUAL GROUP OF BOSTON and ROMER VS EVANS.

HURLEY (94-749), involves the right of lesbian, gay and bisexual Irish-Americans
 to march in the St. Patrick's Day parade. The ruling handed down last January
gave South Boston Allied War Veterans Council the right to exclude the gay
and lesbian group (called GLIB). The Supreme Court will review that decision,
along with decisions by two lower courts that said the parade is a "public
accomodation" and no group can be excluded.

EVANS (94-1039), concerns Colorado's anti-gay amendment, approved by voters in
November 1992 but blocked in court as unconstitutional. By reviewing the case,
the U.S. supreme Court reopens the threat that this highly discriminatory law
could gointo effect. On the other hand, the court could reinforce the lower
court's decision which would greatly strengthen our fight against anti-gay laws
across the country.

ADMISSION IS FREE.