The Purpose of Out and Allies is to create a forum for all students and faculty to discuss issues of sexual orientation in the law, and to create both a voice for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students in the Law School and to foster a supportive atmosphere for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students. It is a service organization, and has the additional function of informing the student body about sexual orientation issues, developing service projects to support community outreach programs and builds relationships between GLBT professionals and the University of Cincinnati College of Law students.

Projects, 2003-2004

See our calendar at http://calendar.yahoo.com/uclawoutallies.

National Coming Out Week, 2003: Passing Out of Educational Material, Voter Registration, petition work for Citizens to Restore Fairness (repeal of Article XII), and student fundraiser.

Citizens to Restore Fairness: We plan to help in the ongoing effort to repeal Article XII from the City of Cincinnati?s Charter. Article XII allows employers and landlords to fire or evict someone because of their sexual orientation. This was passed in 1993 because it included language about quotas and special protection in addition to the language that prevented to city from protecting individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Pot-Luck or Wine and Cheese at Local Attorney's House: To become a yearly tradition! Meet local attorneys and other supporters in a casual setting. Tap into a local support and job network.

Service Projects: AIDS Walk Volunteering for AVOC and work with GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) to educate, mostly high school students, about sexual orientation.

Family Room: We began some legal research to set up a room for law students with children. This room would create a safe place for their children while they attend class. This year we will continue to work for funding, space and a final release of liability.

Rainbow Networking Reception: The 4th Annual Reception will once again take place in the Spring.

Out and Allies Pub Crawl: Our fabulous co-chair/social director will no doubt make sure that we have a couple of these? watch her, she likes to pick up stray pussy cats.

Panel Discussion: There are a number of interesting issues in Cincinnati and beyond that would be interesting topics for a panel discussion. The firing of Reverend Van Keiken for performing same sex marriages in the Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church; The work to repeal Article XII and the suit filed against the City of Cincinnati for putting sexual orientation on the hate crimes ordinance, which they claim violates Article XII; The victory this past spring for the transgendered cop who won her discrimination suit against the City of Cincinnati; Possibly the 2003 Supreme Court ruling which struck down the Texas law that criminalized homosexual sodomy.

Projects, 2002-2003

National Coming Out Day in October 2002: Educational Materials Distributed and Student Fundraiser

Group Outing: Out & Allies goes canoeing? brrrr.

Service Project with Aids Volunteers of Cincinnati: Final Friday at Pendleton Art Gallery, Auction in Support of AVOC.

Panel Discussion about recent changes in Ohio Law: Scott Knox, Lisa Meeks and Sallee Fry Watermann were panelists for a discussion of recent cases that they had worked on related to sexual orientation in the law and AIDS in the law. Both Mr. Know and Ms. Fry were coming off recent victories in the Ohio Supreme Court.

Rainbow Networking Reception: Out and Allies hosted a Wine and Cheese Networking Reception, inviting local attorneys who are themselves GLBT, work on GLBT issues or have GLBT friendly practices.

Out and Allies Pub Crawl: Drag Night at the Golden Lion, Yadda Club and The Dock. Who are they going to shine the light on at Drag Night this year?