A LGBT religious freedom panel, “Reconciling Religious Freedom and Civil Rights,” will precede a visit by Vice President Mike Pence.
WHAT: The Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae of Notre Dame and St. Mary’s College (GALA-ND/SMC) and Notre Dame Gender Studies Program will co-sponsor a panel entitled “Reconciling Religious Freedom and Civil Rights.”
WHO: The event is free and open to the public.
SPEAKERS/PANELISTS:
Matthew Skinner ’06, Executive Director of LeGaL, the LGBT Bar Association of New York — Moderator
Mary Celeste Kearney, Associate Professor of Film, Television, and Theater & Director of Gender Studies Program, Notre Dame
Anthony Michael Kreis, Visiting Professor, Chicago-Kent College of Law
Catherine Pittman, Chair and Associate Professor of Psychology, Saint Mary’s College
Bryan Ricketts ND ’16, ’17, ND Student Body President 2015/2016
WHEN: Saturday, April 29, 2017 from 12p-2p
WHERE: Notre Dame Hesburgh Library’s Carey Auditorium
BACKGROUND: The Trump/Pence administration is promising to protect rights pertaining to religious freedom. But when do civil rights trump religious belief? And how do schools such as Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s create a supportive and balanced environment for their LGBT students and alumni while ensuring the rights of everyone in their communities?
GALA-ND/SMC Trustee Liam Dacey said: “Given that Vice President Pence, one of the central political figures surrounding the debate over religious freedom and LGBT civil rights, will be speaking at Notre Dame’s commencement in a few weeks, this is a timely and necessary panel to be held on campus.”
MORE INFO: More information about the panel and other GALA-ND/SMC events this weekend can be found at the link: www.galandsmc.org/2017-lgbt-leadership-weekend-celebration/.