The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law (Williams Institute) is a public policy research institute based at the UCLA School of Law focused on sexual orientation and gender identities issues.

History

The Williams Institute was founded in 2001 through a grant by Charles R. "Chuck" Williams. Williams's inaugural donation of $2.5 million to create the institute was the largest donation ever given to any academic institution in support of an LGBT academic program in any discipline.[1] In 2013, Williams donated an additional $5.5 million to support the institute.[1]

The Williams Project was founded to replace the pervasive bias against LGBT people in law, policy, and culture with independent research on LGBT issues. In 2006, the Williams Project merged with the Institute for Gay & Lesbian Strategic Studies, becoming the Williams Institute.[2]

Focus

The Williams Institute’s work covers a wide range of issues impacting LGBTQ people, including demographics[3] and data collection,[4] discrimination and violence,[5] criminalization,[6] family formation and parenting,[7] health[8] and socioeconomic disparities,[9] challenges faced by the most vulnerable LGBTQ community members,[10] and global human rights.[11]

Impact

The Williams Institute produces demographic data and public-policy research relevant to the real world.[12]

Examples of the Williams Institute’s impact on law and policy include:  

  • In 2015, Justice Anthony Kennedy cited Williams Institute estimates on the number of same-sex couples raising children as a deciding factor in the landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which granted marriage equality in the U.S.[13]
  • Williams Institute scholars and research have also been cited by the Supreme Court in other landmark LGBTQ rights cases, including Bostock v. Clayton County[14] and 303 Creative v. Elenis,[15] as well as in dozens of lower court decisions. 

References

  1. ^ a b "UCLA Law Receives $5.5 Million Gift to Support Growth and Leadership of the Williams Institute". law.ucla.edu (Press release). UCLA School of Law. July 9, 2013. Archived from the original on January 20, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  2. ^ "Who we are". Williams Institute. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  3. ^ "Williams Institute Topics: Demographics".
  4. ^ "Williams Institute Topics: Data Collection".
  5. ^ "Williams Institute Topics: Discrimination and Violence".
  6. ^ "Williams Institute Topics: Criminalization".
  7. ^ "Williams Institute Topics: Relationships and Parenting".
  8. ^ "Williams Institute Topics: Health and HIV/AIDS".
  9. ^ "Williams Institute Topics: Economics and Poverty".
  10. ^ "Williams Institute Populations: People of Color".
  11. ^ "Williams Institute Topics: International".
  12. ^ "Williams Institute Impact".
  13. ^ "Bloomberg Television: Retired Justice Kennedy Says His Gay Marriage Ruling 'Surprised' Him".
  14. ^ "Supreme Court of the United States: Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia" (PDF).
  15. ^ "Supreme Court of the United States: 303 Creative v. Elenis" (PDF).
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Williams_Institute
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