BOSTON, Mass — Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, GLAD, is proud to announce the publication of Transgender Family Law: A Guide to Effective Advocacy, the first book to comprehensively address legal issues facing transgender people in the family law context and provide practitioners the tools to effectively represent transgender clients. Featuring chapters by attorneys with expertise in both family law and transgender legal advocacy, the book was edited by Jennifer L. Levi , director of GLAD’s Transgender Rights Project, and Elizabeth E. Monnin-Browder, a litigation associate in the Boston office of Ropes & Gray and a former GLAD attorney. Transgender Family Law: A Guide to Effective Advocacy will be available in bound and electronic versions on May 16, 2012.
“Some of the most heartbreaking stories I have heard in my career as an LGBT legal advocate involve transgender people in family courts,” said Levi, a nationally recognized expert on transgender legal issues. “The rights of transgender people – as parents, spouses, and simply as human beings – are often trammeled in family court because of pervasive bias and misunderstanding. Transgender Family Law: A Guide to Effective Advocacy is a road map for transgender individuals and their attorneys to navigate the family court system in this evolving area of law.”
Resource for practitioners to foster quality representation for transgender clients
“This book tackles a cutting edge area of family law and we’re thrilled to have contributions from some of this country’s most well-respected experts in this field,” said Monnin-Browder. “Transgender Family Law: A Guide to Effective Advocacy details the unique needs and vulnerabilities of transgender people in the family law context. I hope transgender people will read and share it with their attorneys as they plan a family, navigate the dissolution of a relationship or a custody dispute, or simply seek to protect their rights and those of their children.”
The chapters address a broad range of topics, including:
- Culturally Competent Representation
- Recognition of Name and Sex
- Relationship Recognition and Protections
- Protecting Parental Rights
- Relationship Dissolution
- Parental Rights after Relationship Dissolution
- Custody Disputes Involving Transgender Children
- Protections for Transgender Youth
- Intimate Partner Violence
- Estate Planning and Elder Law
The MTPC’s ED shares his opinion on the book
“GLAD has been the go to organization on transgender legal issues and this is a much needed resource for the transgender community and the attorneys that assist transgender youth, adults, and families in navigating the legal system,” said Gunner Scott, MTPC’s executive director. “MTPC will be adding this to our list of resources that are a ‘must have’ for organizations and individuals working with transgender youth, adults, and our families.”
Boston Pride did not wait to congratulate the historic work by GLAD
Adds Boston Pride: “With the publication of the Transgender Family Law Book, GLAD makes history in providing a very practical tool to advance equality for all trans-identified people and for our community at-large. Boston Pride congratulates GLAD for their work and this tremendous accomplishment towards quality representation for transgender individuals and families.”
Other contributors
In addition to chapters authored by Levi and Monnin-Browder, contributors to Transgender Family Law: A Guide to Effective Advocacy include Kylar W. Broadus, Patience Crozier, Benjamin L. Jerner, Michelle B. LaPointe, Morgan Lynn, Shannon Price Minter, Zack M. Paakkonen, Terra Slavin, Wayne A. Thomas Jr., Esq., Deborah H. Wald and Janson Wu.
For more information, or to purchase a copy of Transgender Family Law: A Guide to Effective Advocacy, visit www.glad.org/TFL.
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders is New England ’s leading legal organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status, and gender identity and expression.
