"If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair ..."

[Apologies to Scott McKenzie.]

The University of San Francisco, that is, on February 26, 2010.  (In case anyone doesn't know, USF is a Jesuit institution, as is my, and Robert Araujo's, alma mater, Georgetown, and my wife's alma mater, the University of Detroit.)

University of San Franciso Law Review Symposium

The University of San Francisco Law Review's Spring Symposium will feature prominent scholars and practitioners considering the future of same-sex marriage from legal, political, and cultural perspectives. Five plenary panels will examine: empirical data regarding the material consequences of denying or recognizing same-sex marriage; recent federal constitutional challenges to state bans of same-sex marriage; the role of competing social movements in shaping marriage; the emerging focus on questions about parenting children and securing families; and, the intersection of religion and anti-discrimination law in the context of same-sex marriage.

Panels

8:00am Visitor Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00am Opening Remarks by Dean Jeffrey S. Brand and Commencement of Symposium

Crunching the Numbers: Examining empirical data regarding the material consequences of denying or recognizing same-sex marriage.

Moderated by Prof. Bruce Price, University of San Francisco School of Law

Participants:

• Prof. Patricia Cain, Santa Clara Law
• Prof. Kimberly Richman, University of San Francisco
• Brad Sears, Executive Director, The Charles R. Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy, UCLA
• Therese Stewart, Chief Deputy City Attorney, City of San Francisco

Analyzing the Federal Challenge: Discussing the federal constitutional challenge to California's Proposition 8 and similar litigation.

Moderated by Prof. John Adler, University of San Francisco School of Law

Participants:

• Prof. Calvin Massey, University of California, Hastings
• Molly McKay, National Media Director, Marriage Equality USA
• Vincent McCarthy, Senior Counsel, American Center for Law and Justice
• Prof. Julie Nice, University of San Francisco, School of Law

Mobilizing Movements: Exploring the roles of competing social movements in shaping the future of marriage.

Moderated by Prof. Josh Davis, University of San Francisco School of Law

Participants:

• Shauna Fisher, Ph.D. candidate, University of Washington
• Prof. Darren Hutchinson, American University, Washinton College of Law
• Prof. Anna-Maria Marshall, University of Illinois College of Law
• Prof. Jane Schacter, Stanford Law School

Lunch

Protecting Families: Examining the emerging focus on questions about parenting children and securing families.

Moderated by Prof. Maya Manian, University of San Francisco School of Law

Participants:

• Prof. Annette Appell, Washington University School of Law
• Prof. June Carbone, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
• Prof. Courtney Joslin, UC Davis School of Law
• Prof. Melissa Murray, UC Berkeley, School of Law

Exercising Religion: Considering the intersection of religion and anti-discrimination law in the context of same-sex marriage.

Moderated by Prof. Maria Ontiveros, University of San Francisco School of Law

Participants:

• Prof. Alan Brownstein, UC Davis, School of Law
• Prof. Dale Carpenter, University of Minnesota Law School
• Prof. Doug Ne Jaime, Loyola Law School