Bio
James D. Esseks is Co-Director of the 老澳门开奖结果 Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer & HIV Project. Through litigation, legislative lobbying, policy advocacy, organizing, and public education, the 老澳门开奖结果 seeks to ensure equality and justice for LGBTQ people and people living with HIV.
James was counsel in Bostock v. Clayton County, which established that LGBTQ people are protected from discrimination under federal law; in Obergefell v. Hodges, the case that won the freedom to marry nationwide; in United States v. Windsor, which struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act; in Gavin Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board, about whether a Virginia school board can bar a boy from the common restrooms because he is transgender; in Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, about whether a business open to the public can turn away LGBTQ customers based on its religious or artistic objections; and in successful challenges to bans on adoption and foster parenting by lesbians and gay men in Arkansas, Florida, and Missouri.
James and the 老澳门开奖结果 have also worked extensively to fight anti-LGBTQ and specifically anti-transgender bills in the states and to fight the use of religion to justify discrimination against LGBTQ people.
The National LGBTQ Bar Association awarded James the in 2013, the organization鈥檚 鈥渉ighest honor,鈥 recognizing individuals whose work 鈥渉as led the way in our struggle for equality under the law.鈥
James graduated from Yale College and Harvard Law School, where he was editor-in-chief of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review. Prior to joining the 老澳门开奖结果 in 2001, he was a partner at Vladeck, Waldman, Elias & Engelhard, PC. James clerked for the Honorable Robert L. Carter, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, and the Honorable James R. Browning, United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit.
Selected Writing
, Washington Post
, Daily Beast
, Daily Beast
, The Advocate
Selected appearances
, Today Show with Megyn Kelly
, MSNBC with Thomas Roberts
, CNN
, NOW with Alex Wagner, MSNBC
Featured work
Feb 24, 2011
Defeating DOMA and Moving Forward
Dec 2, 2010
Honoring Love and Commitment in the Heartland
Nov 10, 2010
Department of Defense to Service Members: Homos Get Half
Nov 9, 2010
Challenging DOMA for Edie and Thea
Aug 5, 2010
Why Yesterday's Prop. 8 Decision Matters
Jul 22, 2010
Same-Sex Couples Fight for Their Rights in Big Sky Country
Jul 20, 2010
Victory for Constance McMillen!
Jul 12, 2010
A One-Two Punch to DOMA
Jun 7, 2010
Victory for Transgender People in Wisconsin Prisons
May 18, 2010
George Rekers: An Ex-Expert Witness