Past Events
Speaker: Heather Walter-McCabe, J.D., M.S.W., Associate Professor, Saint Louis University School of Law
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 p.m. EDT
Location: Zoom Webinar
States justify statutes aimed at banning medical care for LGBTQ people by arguing that they are serving a state interest, generally protecting children. When statutes are challenged, trial courts must assess the alleged scientific evidence to determine that which is based on methodologically sound science and that which is not, not for the purpose of assessing the merits of the alleged scientific evidence, but, rather, to identify a material question of fact.
The question is whether there is true uncertainty in the science, or whether animus is embedded in the "science" the legislature relied on. Animus is not a state interest that can justify legislation under rational basis testing whether in the substantive due process or equal protection context.
This talk will explore who decides how and what information and “research” is valid justification of a legitimate state interest to support public policy, particularly when there is valid concern not only regarding scientific rigor, but also animus.
This program will only be offered online and you must register for the Zoom Webinar using the link provided. Following registration, you will receive an email with a link to join the Webinar. To enable participation in the polling throughout the webinar for CLE credit, please ensure that you are joining the webinar from the Zoom application (desktop or mobile). Note that joining the webinar from a web browser is not compatible and doing so will result in not receiving CLE credit.
E-mail certificates will be provided certifying attendance for those wishing to apply for CLE credit outside of Indiana.
CEU Certificates are available for Indiana Behavioral Health & Human Services Providers.
About the Speaker:
Heather Walter-McCabe is an Associate Professor at Saint Louis University School of Law, where her research examines policy mechanisms for advancing health equity at the intersection of law, social work, and public health. Her research focuses on sexual orientation and gender identity as she leads a legal epidemiology project analyzing state policies that contribute to the health outcomes of LGBTQ communities.
Her work examining the impact of policy on health disparities in LGBTQ communities has been published in Creighton Law Review, Saint Louis University Journal of Health Law & Policy, the Journal of Healthcare Law & Policy, and the Journal of Law, Medicine, and Ethics. She has also published in numerous peer-reviewed journals as part of her commitment to translating complex legal issues and research findings across multiple professions to make the information accessible for use by practitioners and advocates in improving population health.
