Biddle Memorial Lecture Addresses Pro-Gay `Like-Race' Argument

Janet E. Halley, a professor at Stanford Law School, discussed the implications of drawing analogies between the gay rights movement and the civil rights movement yesterday at the Harvard Law School (HLS).

Halley's lecture--titled "Pro-Gay `Like-Race' Arguments"--focused on gay "like-race" arguments within sexual orientation groups, between sexual orientation groups and racially identified groups, and between individuals who are members of both groups.

According to Richard H. Fallon, a professor at HLS, Halley has "a post-modernist view of the issue."

Fallon, who is also the chair of the committee on special lectures, introduced Halley to the crowd of about 100 people assembled in Austin Hall.

Fast-paced and reading directly from her paper, Halley used many issue-specific terms with which most of the audience seemed familiar.

Halley addressed the claim that homosexuality, like race, is immutable in the individual. She raised concerns that the immutability claim could be detrimental to either minority group.

"An unexamined and bizarre premise...seems to be that, if blacks could change the color of their skin, white majorities would be more justified in asking them to do so," Halley said.

Halley also said that if the immutability argument led to an anti-discrimination law, bisexuals could be left out.

"After all, they can switch," Halley said.

While acknowledging that "like-race" similes have caused friction in both racially and sexually identified groups, Halley concluded that such similes can in fact be a helpful political and legal tool.

"Sometimes minoritizing representations do work in the sense that they facilitate actual legal reform," she said.

Halley went on to contend that racial and sexual issues are too intertwined to separate them.

"I don't pretend to have a resolution to these questions. There are ethical problems here," Halley said.

"The point that I'm making is basically that meta is bettah," she said during a question and answer session after the lecture.

Halley's argument struck a chord with severalaudience members, some of whom were students ofFallon's and others who were familiar withHalley's work in the area.

Nicole L. DeBlosi '99, co-chair-elect of BGLTSAand current co-chair of girlspot, said she is notgenerally in favor of using "like-race" analogiesin reference to gay rights.

"Saying that your identity is somethingimmutable will get you further in the eyes of themainstream than claiming that it was constructed,"DeBlosi said.

But, she added, "I am not interested in makingan argument to legitimize myself in the eyes ofthe mainstream."

Anthony P. Farley, a law professor at BostonCollege, said "like-race" analogies to sexualidentity could either create solidarity betweenoppressed groups or create further oppression.

"The political effect of the `like-race' similewould depend on the context," said Farley, who isblack.

Halley's lecture was this year's Frances BiddleMemorial Lecture, a lecture series thatcommemorates the former Attorney General. Thelectures address civil liberties and civil rights.

"It's truly wonderful that Harvard Law Schoolis giving us the opportunity to discuss law andsocial groups," Halley said.

A complementary lecture titled "Identity andthe Case for Gay Rights: Race, Gender, Religion asAnalogies" by David A.J. Richards will be giventomorrow. The lecture will be at 4:30 p.m. inAustin Hall

Halley's argument struck a chord with severalaudience members, some of whom were students ofFallon's and others who were familiar withHalley's work in the area.

Nicole L. DeBlosi '99, co-chair-elect of BGLTSAand current co-chair of girlspot, said she is notgenerally in favor of using "like-race" analogiesin reference to gay rights.

"Saying that your identity is somethingimmutable will get you further in the eyes of themainstream than claiming that it was constructed,"DeBlosi said.

But, she added, "I am not interested in makingan argument to legitimize myself in the eyes ofthe mainstream."

Anthony P. Farley, a law professor at BostonCollege, said "like-race" analogies to sexualidentity could either create solidarity betweenoppressed groups or create further oppression.

"The political effect of the `like-race' similewould depend on the context," said Farley, who isblack.

Halley's lecture was this year's Frances BiddleMemorial Lecture, a lecture series thatcommemorates the former Attorney General. Thelectures address civil liberties and civil rights.

"It's truly wonderful that Harvard Law Schoolis giving us the opportunity to discuss law andsocial groups," Halley said.

A complementary lecture titled "Identity andthe Case for Gay Rights: Race, Gender, Religion asAnalogies" by David A.J. Richards will be giventomorrow. The lecture will be at 4:30 p.m. inAustin Hall