Our Vision
The Center for Gender and Sexuality Law's mission is to formulate new approaches to complex issues facing gender and sexual justice movements.
Founded by Professor Katherine Franke alongside Professor Suzanne Goldberg, The Center for Gender and Sexuality Law has established Columbia Law School as the preeminent law school for the study of and specialization in the law of gender and sexuality. The Center is the base for many research projects and initiatives focused on issues of gender, sexuality, reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, and gender identity and expression in law, policy, and professional practice.
A core focus of the Center's work is to provide students with opportunities to supplement their curricular learning through lectures, panel discussions, conferences, and guest speaker series on a multitude of contemporary issues regarding Gender and Sexuality Law, including civil rights, bodily autonomy and reproductive justice, the rights of transgender, nonbinary and gender non-conforming persons, the rights and experiences of intersex persons, and gender norms in public space.
The Center for Gender & Sexuality Law is committed, too, to supporting the Columbia Law School alumni community. All of our events are free and open to the public, and we offer several CLE programs each year to Columbia Law School alums and the New York City legal community. Check out our Events and Programs page to learn more about past and upcoming events.
The Law, Rights, and Religion Project
The Center is home to the Law, Rights, and Religion Project (LRRP), a law and policy think tank founded by Professor Katherine Franke in 2014 that promotes social justice, freedom of religion, and religious plurality. LRRP's mission is to ensure that laws and policies reflect the understanding that the right to free exercise of religion protects all religious beliefs and communities, including non-believers; requires respect for religious plurality and equality principles; and must be balanced against other liberty and equality rights where they are in conflict.
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Project
CGSL is also home to the ERA Project, a law and policy think tank established in January 2021 to develop academically rigorous research, policy papers, expert guidance, and strategic leadership on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution, and on the role of the ERA in advancing the larger cause of gender-based justice.
The ERA Project does not engage in lobbying, but instead develops academic, legal and policy expertise to support efforts to expand protections for gender-based equality and justice.
Resources for Students
The Center for Gender & Sexuality Law is pleased to support student programming at Columbia Law School, and to mentor student leaders and student organizations in developing and hosting their own programs focused on issues of gender, sexuality, reproductive justice, civil rights, and social justice. Looking for research experience? Apply here to join us an undergraduate or graduate Research Assistant.