Nondiscrimination Policy
Tulane University is an educational institution committed to affirmative action and equal employment opportunity, as stated in the Tulane University Mission Statement, adopted by the Board of Administrators on April 30, 1992, which includes the following principle: Tulane is strongly committed to policies of nondiscrimination and affirmative action in student admission and employment. To accomplish this goal, Tulane's admission and personnel actions, such as, but not limited to, recruitment, employment, compensation, and promotion, do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national/ethnic origin, age, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. By adopting the principles outlined in this statement, the Tulane University Board of Administrators reaffirms its commitment to quality education embracing the continuation of an inclusive and culturally diverse campus community and enhancing mutual respect among our university community members. We continue to recognize our responsibility to prepare our students for active roles in a multicultural, multiethnic world.
Student Organization Contact Information
LAMBDA Law Alliance
E-mails should be sent to admissions@law.tulane.edu and will be forwarded to the current student head of the organization.
Faculty Contact Information
Professor Shu-yi Oei
E-mail: soei@tulane.edu
Professor Robert S. Westley
E-mail: rwestley@tulane.edu
Administrator Contact Information
None
Course Titles and/or Descriptions
Sexuality and the Law
This course examines the impact of legal regulation in the United States on such areas of sexuality and sexual preference as intimate association, marriage, family structure, workplace discrimination, and civil rights. Offered every other year.
Law and Sexuality: A Review of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Legal Issues
Tulane Law School also sponsors a journal. Students may receive credit for work on this journal.
This journal was founded in 1989 by a group of gay and non-gay students to provide a national forum for discourse on legal matters related to sexual orientation. This journal is published every year and has a broad, national circulation. The review publishes articles by scholars and lawyers on a wide variety of subjects, including constitutional law, corporate law, employment law, family law, health law, insurance, military law, and trusts and estates. The review also publishes traditional student writing.
Membership on the review is open to all upperclass law students. Members are chosen through summer and fall writing competitions. The responsibilities of the staff members include editing articles and student work and writing comments and recent developments material on any subject related to LGBT legal issues.
Domestic Partnership Benefits
Tulane University offers Domestic Partner Benefit Coverage. The partners of benefits-eligible employees may obtain health, dental, and life insurance coverage, and certain other fringe benefits.
What is a Domestic Partnership?
A Domestic Partnership is defined as two individuals of the same gender who live together in a long-term relationship of indefinite duration, with an exclusive mutual commitment in which the Partners agree to be jointly responsible for each other's common welfare and share financial obligations. The Partners may not be related by blood to a degree of closeness that would prohibit legal marriage in the state in which they legally reside.
What are the advantages of registering my Domestic Partner with Tulane University?
If you are a benefits-eligible employee, your Partner may obtain health, dental, and life insurance coverage, and certain other fringe benefits. If you are eligible for tuition waiver benefits for your dependents, eligibility may extend to your Domestic Partner as defined in the tuition waiver policy.
How and when may I register my Domestic Partner?
You can register a Domestic Partner at any time. A "Statement of Domestic Partnership" form is available from the Benefits Office. You and Your Partner will be asked to sign the Affidavit that must be accompanied by the required documentation defined on the face of the Statement. After your registration has been reviewed and your documentation approved, you will receive a copy of the Statement signed by a representative of the Tulane University Benefits Office.
How do I obtain Health and/or Dental coverage for my Domestic Partner?
If you are a new employee who is benefits eligible, you can enroll your Domestic Partner at the same time you enroll yourself, provided that you register your Domestic Partner and the University approves your registration.
Once the University has accepted your registration, you have 31 days from that date to enroll your partner in your health and/or dental coverage. Otherwise, you must wait until the next announced Open Enrollment Period.
What is the cost of adding my Domestic Partner to my health, dental, and life insurance plans?
Monthly payroll deductions for health and/or dental coverage are the same as those for employees who cover spouses and dependent children. Check with the Benefits Office for current costs.
What are the tax consequences of adding my Domestic Partner to my health and/or dental plan?
The employee contribution for the portion of medical and dental insurance premiums attributable to the Domestic Partner cannot be made on a pre-tax basis because the Internal Revenue Service does not recognize a Domestic Partner as a dependent.
Am I eligible to participate in a Medical Flexible Spending Account?
The IRS, not the University, defines what types of expenses qualify for pretax reimbursement. Since the IRS does not recognize a Domestic Partner as a dependent, a Flexible Spending Account is not available for their medical expenses not covered by health insurance.
How do I obtain a Tulane ID Card for my Domestic Partner?
A registered same-sex Domestic Partner can obtain a Family Member ID Card, just as spouses do. After registering with the Benefits Office, an ID card will be issued to your Domestic Partner by Human Resources.
How can my Domestic Partner obtain a Reily Membership and library privileges?
Consult the Reily Membership Office at 504.865.5431 for details. Registered same-sex Domestic Partners have library privileges. Present your ID card to use the libraries.
How can my Domestic Partner take advantage of Tuition Waivers benefits?
In accordance with the Tuition Waiver Policy, tuition benefits are available to Domestic Partners. After your Domestic Partner Registration is approved, obtain the tuition waiver form from Human Resources and submit the completed form to Human Resources along with the proper documents by the deadlines.
Are children of my domestic partner eligible for benefits?
No, unless you have legally adopted the children and such children are claimed as dependents on your tax return.
Are there tax consequences if my Domestic Partner uses Tuition Waiver benefits?
Yes, as with health and dental benefits, the Internal Revenue Code does not extend nontaxable educational assistance (Tuition Waiver benefits) to Domestic Partners. The University must include the full value of the tuition benefits used by your Domestic Partner in your income, and taxes will be withheld accordingly. Tuition Waiver benefits for your dependent children will qualify for nontaxable educational assistance.
What happens to my Domestic Partner's medical coverage if I should leave the University?
If you meet the eligibility rule to continue medical benefits after you leave the University you will not be able to continue to cover your Domestic Partner under the University's Medical Plan. Domestic Partners are not eligible to continue health and/or dental benefits under COBRA.
What else should I consider?
You are encouraged to speak with a tax advisor before enrolling your Domestic Partner and may name anyone as a beneficiary on group life insurance. It is not necessary to register a Domestic Partner to name him or her as the beneficiary. With regard to the Tulane University Retirement Plan or Supplemental Tax Deferred Annuity Plan, if you are not legally married, you may name anyone as your beneficiary. If you are legally married, you must name your spouse for at least 50 percent of the account. Change of beneficiary forms for TIAA-CREF and Fidelity are available from the Benefits Office.
What happens if my Partner and I end our relationship?
You must file the form 'Statement of Termination of Domestic Partnership' with the University Benefits Office. You may not file a subsequent Statement of Registration of the Domestic Partner until 12 months have elapsed from the date of filing of the Statement of Termination of the previous relationship. (The University will waive the 12 months waiting period only if another Affidavit is filed for the same Partner.) You must notify the Benefits Office in writing within 31 days of the date the relationship ends. Your former Domestic Partner will no longer be eligible for any benefits privileges, and you must remove your former Domestic Partner from all University benefit plans. Former Domestic Partners are not eligible to continue health and/or dental benefits under COBRA.
For all questions concerning benefit coverage, consult the Benefits Department in Human Resources. You may make an appointment by calling Human Resources at 504.865.5280.
Additional Information
Tulane University Law School prides itself in cultivating a welcoming and multicultural environment for all students, including
LGBT individuals. The Law School encourages LGBT applicants to consider disclosing their sexual orientation and/or identity
in the application materials (in the optional "diversity" essay). Of course, disclosure is voluntary based on individual
assessment and the comfort level of such disclosure by each applicant.
The faculty at Tulane Law School often incorporate
LGBT issues within their courses to enrich classroom discussion. The Law School faculty also benefits from the input and
participation of several openly LGBT professors who often act as mentors to LGBT organizations and individuals within the
Law School.
Many LGBT law students become involved in Tulane Law School's student organization Lambda Law Alliance
and/or the Journal of Law and Sexuality during their three years of law school. Lambda Law Alliance is the student organization
devoted to LGBT issues in the Tulane Law School community, the New Orleans legal community, and the national arena. The
organization conducts frequent programs and social events during the academic year to educate the membership and Law
School community about current LGBT topics, including legal developments related to same-sex marriage, and legal careers.
Almost every year, Lambda hosts lectures by distinguished national speakers to promote the discussion and inclusion of LGBT
topics within the Law School.
LGBT law students often become members of the Journal of Law and Sexuality. First published
in 1991, Law and Sexuality is the first and only student-edited law review in the country devoted solely to covering legal issues
of interest to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community on a wide variety of subjects, including constitutional,
employment, family, health, insurance, and military law. Law and Sexuality is the official legal publication of the National
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Bar Association. The journal regularly hosts a symposium at Tulane that
presents policy concerns, public and private discourse, upcoming legislation, regulations, treatises, and practices that pertain to
LGBT concerns.
Located in New Orleans, Tulane Law School affords LGBT students the opportunity to become engaged and
participate in an active LGBT community. Every year, New Orleans hosts several LGBT festivals to celebrate the contributions
and presence of the community in the city and the challenges it still faces within the state, region, and nation. Local civic and
governmental organizations, including an HRC chapter, the Human Relations Commission for the Mayor's Office, Equality
Rights, and LGBT sports leagues provide opportunities for law students to become engaged in local LGBT initiatives and
interact with stakeholders in the region.
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