Last week, University of San Diego LSRJ lured over 120 people to our last event of the semester with a sultry title, Chipotle, and a raffle for chocolate body paint, but the attendees stayed for a substantive conversation about the evolution and limitations of the constitutional “right to privacy.”

The split between the 5^th and 11^th Circuits over Lawrence v. Texas’ application to the sale and promotion of sex toys spawned “My Body, My Bedroom.”  Whereas the 11^th Circuit ruled in Williams v. Attorney General of Alabama, 378 F.3d 1232 (5th Cir. 2004), that Lawrence does not protect the sale of sex toys, the 5^th Circuit examined the question in Reliable Consultants, Inc. v. Earle, 517 F.3d 738 (11th Cir. 2008), and came to the opposite conclusion.

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Having just returned from the 2010 CLPP conference, From Abortion to Rights to Social Justice:  Building the Movement for Reproductive Freedom, at Hampshire College this past weekend, my head is buzzing with new ideas, inspiring words, and the sense of being part of something much larger…a movement with an important history and a hopeful future—at least judging by the number of engaged young people attending and leading this major convening of reproductive justice activists.  Workshops, trainings, and plenary panels spread across three days covered a wide range of issues—including economic justice, racial equality, freedom from violence, immigrant rights, climate justice, health care reform, and LGBTQ rights—all of which inform our understandings of what true reproductive justice will look like.

One of the most powerful aspects of the experience for me was connecting with people who do RJ work in many different capacities—as grassroots organizers and educators, as medical professionals and professional activists, as college students and as parents.  Spending much of my time working with law students and lawyers, it’s all too easy to get used to speaking in certain ways and hearing the same kinds of voices in my daily conversations.  (more…)

On April 1, 2009, I stood in front of a room full of my friends and peers, lured by the promise of cookies and baked goods, and timidly proclaimed that I was beginning a new chapter of Law Students for Reproductive Justice (LSRJ) at our school, Thomas Jefferson School of Law (TJSL) in San Diego

Coming upon LSRJ at the time that I did was a matter of fate.  I started playing roller derby during my first year of law school as a stress reliever.  Within about nine months of joining the local league, I was sitting on the sidelines with a pulled muscle and spending a significant amount of time undergoing rehabilitation.  It suddenly dawned on me that I was halfway through law school and all I had to show for it were some healing bruises and a weak groin.  I met with my career counselor who was aware that I was interested in practicing surrogacy and family formation law.  In her research prior to our meeting, she came across an organization called Law Students for Reproductive Justice.  She asked if I had heard of it—I hadn’t.  She navigated to the fact sheets located on LSRJ’s webpage and showed me that this organization focused on a myriad issues including assisted reproductive technology.  This piqued my curiosity so I went home and researched LSRJ.  I sent an inquiry to the national office, and the TJSL Chapter was born. (more…)