Posted by PLEASE JOIN US ON THURSDAY, MAY 7TH, 6:30 PM @ Washoe Dems Headquarters, 1465 Terminal Way, Reno as the Stonewall Democrats of Northern Nevada (SDNN) host their first talk in a series of talks on LGBT issues. This first talk is on LGBT Legislation both local and National. Join facilitator Laura Grotz (from Laura’s List) and panel guests, David Gordon – HRC, Lauren Scott – Equality Nevada, Nicole Harvey – Three Degrees.
Our facilitator Laura Grotz is past President of SDNN, former publisher of RenoOut Magazine, co-founder of the Pacific Bell Gay and Lesbian Employee Association, the Nevada State Stonewall Democratic Caucus, and the Reno AIDS Walk. Laura is currently publishing Laura’s List an e-mail blast that alerts the LGBT community and friends to key events in our area. She was also a co-host on a local SNCAT TV program – The Lesbian Authority. Laura recently worked with a team of people to organize testimony and support for three bills SB207, SB283 and AB184, that went before the legislature on March 27th. We are glad to have Laura facilitating the entire speaker series.
Our featured panel for this talk includes:
David Gordon – David Gordon is the Political Co-Chair for the Nevada chapter of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest political advocacy organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans. For 5 years in Nevada and 3 years before in California, David has organized groups to lobby legislators in Washington, D.C. and in-district and organized other direct action events. David recently testified in front of the Nevada legislature on behalf of S.B. 283, the Domestic Partner bill, and lobbied Nevada legislators during Nevada’s first ever Equality Days in Carson City.
David is also active with Stonewall Democrats of Northern Nevada and before that, Equality California, the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center. David’s day-job is managing international websites.
Lauren Scott – Lauren Scott has been an activist for transgender issues since 2003 and has authored several articles on the subject.
In 2004, she was the county LGBT chair for the John Kerry presidential campaign in Pinellas County, Florida. She relocated to the Reno, Nevada area in 2006.
In 2007, she traveled to Washington D.C. to take part in “Transgender Lobby Days” and discussed transgender issues with members of congress.
She testified at the Nevada state legislature in support of an amendment to Senate bill SB 207, which would have provided protection for gender identity and expression in regards to employment discrimination. The amendment was dropped and SB207 was passed out of the Senate with only protections for sexual orientation.
She was recently presented with a certificate of recognition from the Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN) for being an advocate and ally of the Northern Nevada GLBTIQ community.
She founded and is now the Executive Director of Equality Nevada, a non-profit organization that seeks to improve the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and genderqueer individuals in Nevada by advocating for equal rights and benefits in the workplace, by ensuring individuals are treated equally under the law and by increasing public support through innovative advocacy, education and outreach programs.
She recently gave a presentation entitled “Sex, Gender and Society: A Transgender Perspective” as an invited guest speaker at the UNR Reynolds School of Journalism.
Lauren is also a decorated Air Force veteran and served during Desert Storm. She holds a Bachelors degree in Business Administration.
Nicole Harvey – Nicole M. Harvey, Esq. is a member of Jones Vargas Litigation Practice Group, and her practice focuses on employment law and human resource issues. She joined the firm in 2008 after serving as a law clerk for Jones Vargas in the summer of 2007. She brings with her eleven years of experience assisting in law firms and corporate law departments where she worked in wrongful death, commercial real estate, insurance defense, corporate formations, and employment law.
Ms. Harvey is the coordinator for Three Degrees, Northern Nevada’s GLBT Business & Professional Network, recipient of a 2009 Advocate & Ally Award from the Associated Students of the University of Nevada. Ms. Harvey is an associate member of the Society for Human Resources Management, and currently serves as Program Director for the Carson City Northern Nevada Human Resources Association. She is a member of the Northern Nevada Women Lawyer’s Association, and enjoys volunteering with the Washoe County Bar Association’s High School Mock Trial Competition.
Ms. Harvey holds a Juris Doctorate with honors from the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. She earned her Bachelors degree in economics from the University of Nevada, Reno. Ms. Harvey is admitted to practice before the state and federal courts of Nevada, and is a member of the Washoe County and American Bar Associations.
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