WorldPride Washington, D.C. Human Rights Conference 2025

Workshop: LEGAL LANDSCAPES: GLOBAL & DOMESTIC LAWS SHAPING LGBTQIA2S+ RIGHTS

This comprehensive workshop, presented by distinguished legal scholar Craig Konnoth, provides a nuanced analysis of the complex legal frameworks governing LGBTQIA2S+ rights across diverse jurisdictions worldwide. Through comparative examination of landmark cases, emerging legislation, and strategic litigation, participants will gain valuable insights into both the advancement and erosion of legal protections that directly impact LGBTQIA2S+ lives and communities.

Participants will:
- Examine critical developments in constitutional and statutory protections across different legal systems in LGBT rights
- Identify patterns in judicial reasoning that either expand or limit LGBTQIA2S+ protections
- Analyze the influences that have led to LGBT rights backlash
- Explore emerging legal strategies for undoing LGBT backlash

This expert-led session combines scholarly rigor with practical implications, drawing on Konnoth's extensive experience in health law, civil rights litigation, and LGBT advocacy before the U.S. Supreme Court. Special attention will be given to understanding how different legal systems are responding to similar challenges, and how advocates can effectively leverage comparative approaches.

In this session, legal expert Craig Konnoth takes a deep dive into the current state of laws affecting LGBTQ+ people across the U.S. and around the world. From healthcare access and anti-discrimination protections to freedom of expression and family rights, this presentation unpacks the legal developments that are shaping daily life for LGBTQ+ communities. With thoughtful analysis and real-world context, Konnoth explores how recent shifts in legislation and court rulings are driving both progress and new challenges.

Join us for this essential analysis of how legal landscapes are shaping both opportunities and obstacles for LGBTQIA2S+ communities worldwide. This workshop embodies the conference's commitment to equipping changemakers with sophisticated understanding of the systems that govern our rights, providing crucial context for developing effective advocacy strategies across diverse legal environments.