Eliminating Bias Against LGBTQ + Legal Professionals
By Julia L . Ernst ¹
In April 2022 , more than 200 people attended a program entitled “ Eliminating Bias Against LGBTQ + Legal Professionals ” at the University of North Dakota ( UND ) School of Law in person and online . The law student leaders of the International Human Rights Organization ( IHRO ) coordinated the event , co-sponsored by the Student Trial Lawyers Association and the Women Lawyers Section ( WLS ) of the State Bar Association of North Dakota ( SBAND ).
Michael McGinniss , dean of the UND School of Law , opened the forum with a warm welcome , expressing his appreciation to the law student organizers and thanking the two student organizations and SBAND ’ s WLS for hosting it . Dean McGinniss noted :
UND School of Law is North Dakota ’ s law school , and we hope that by engaging in these important questions , we can help make our legal community stronger and our system of justice and the application of the rule of law more accessible and more fair for all persons in our communities .
IHRO President Morghan Piper moderated the panel . She thanked Dean McGinniss for his support for the program , his warm welcome , and the law school ’ s sponsorship of the reception after the event . She noted :
Today encompasses the journey of progress towards equality and the recognition of LGBTQ rights as human rights . There is still a long way to go and a lot of work to be done .
Ms . Piper reflected on the recent tragedy when a transgender teen in Beach , N . D ., Haley Gabriella Feldmann , took her own life due to discrimination . The obituary written by her family resonated throughout the world . Ms . Piper continued :
This recent tragedy in North Dakota underscores the discrimination people in the LGBTQ community experience in all aspects of life , including education , housing , health care , and health insurance , among many others .
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IHRO President Morghan Piper moderated the program ' s panel discussion .
The fight to end discrimination and promote equality does not stop today . Instead , we should continue to promote protection of the gains we have made , encourage fending off the cruel and unconscionable attacks we are seeing against LGBTQ individuals and their families , and fulfill the promise that everyone should be able to enjoy equality , dignity , protection , and joy in living their lives .
Many legal professionals are members of the LGBTQ community . Many other members of the legal profession also support LGBTQ rights as fundamental constitutional and human rights . It is our duty as legal professionals to support , facilitate , and uphold forward progress to end discrimination and promote equality . Today ’ s panel discussion is a step in the right direction towards completing the work that remains unfinished .
Ms . Piper introduced each of the speakers , who then spoke about their work on LGBTQ + rights and their experiences in North Dakota .
Originally from Milner , N . D ., Lisa Edison- Smith has practiced employment and labor law with Vogel Law Firm in Fargo for more than 25 years . She advises employers on employment discrimination , harassment in the workplace , and related matters , including
LGBTQ + issues . Ms . Edison-Smith earned her undergraduate degree from North Dakota State University ( NDSU ) and law degree from Hamline University , clerked with the Minnesota Supreme Court , and worked for GTE corporation before joining Vogel in 1997 . Ms . Edison-Smith and her wife enjoy traveling , are NDSU Bison football fans , and enjoy spending time with family – especially their two grandchildren .
In her discussion , Ms . Edison-Smith discussed how lawyers in North Dakota can break down barriers , reduce biases , increase diversity and inclusion within the legal profession , and be welcoming to all people in need of legal services . She helped define terms and acronyms used when discussing LGBTQ + issues and summarized U . S . Supreme Court cases addressing the evolution of constitutional rights regarding sexual orientation and gender identity . Ms . Edison-Smith also addressed state laws concerning LGBTQ + rights ; noted a 2019 study indicating that 2 % of partners , 4 % of associates , and 7 % of summer associates identified as LGBTQ +; and highlighted a recent study indicating around 40 % of LGBTQ + attorneys have experienced bias in the workplace .
Raised in Devils Lake , N . D ., Professor Paul Traynor teaches Business Associations , Insurance Law , and Health Law at UND School of Law . Previously , he served for nearly 30 years as in-house counsel representing insurance companies doing business across the United States , including Nodak Insurance Group in Fargo and entities headquartered in Chicago and Boston . Professor Traynor has extensive expertise advising clients on regulatory and compliance matters , approval of risk management products , mergers and acquisitions , board governance , and other areas . He earned his BA and JD from UND and his LLM in insurance law from the University of Connecticut School of Law .