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Abby Rubenfeld | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1953 (age 70–71) |
| Education | J.D. from Boston University School of Law (1979) A.B. with honors Princeton University |
| Occupation(s) | civil rights lawyer, adjunct professor |
| Children | 2 daughters and 1 stepdaughter |
Abby Rubenfeld (born 1953 in Peekskill, New York) is a prominent American civil rights attorney who practices in Nashville, Tennessee.[1]
Rubenfeld received an A.B. with honors from Princeton University, where she was class president, and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 1979, where she helped create the Boston University Gay and Lesbian Law Association.[1][2][3] She was admitted to practice law in 1979.[2][3]
She is an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University Law School and former chair of the Individual Rights and Responsibilities section of the American Bar Association and of the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association.[3][4][5][6] She is also an attorney, mother, lesbian and board member of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee. She serves on the board of directors of the Human Rights Campaign, and previously was an attorney and Legal Director of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc.[4]
In May 2011, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam signed into law a bill, identified as HB 600, that prohibits local jurisdictions in Tennessee from enacting anti-discrimination laws protecting groups that are not already protected by state law. [7]
Metro Nashville previously had passed an ordinance that required contractors, before they could do business with the city, to sign a document stating that they did not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.[7] The new state law, HB 600, had the effect of negating this Nashville ordinance, as well as any other local law that provided greater protection to any group than that provided by Tennessee state law.
On June 13, 2011, Rubenfeld filed suit in the Chancery Court of Davidson County, challenging the constitutionality of HB 600 [8] Rubenfeld argued that the law not only negated local ordinances protecting gays, lesbians, and transgendered Tennesseeans, but it also struck down local protections for “Veterans’ groups, disability groups" and other groups that were not protected by Tennessee law. [9] A group of local lawmakers joined as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. [10]
State lawmakers in favor of the bill argued that the Metro Nashville ordinance, if allowed to stand, would have created “confusion” for businesses, because they would have been required to sign the non-discrimination pledge in Nashville. [9] However, AT&T, Alcoa, FedEx, Whirlpool, DuPont, KPMG, Embraer, Comcast, and Nissan -- companies with a large presence in Tennessee -- expressed disagreement with HB 600.[9] [11]
The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce, which at first was in favor of HB 600, withdrew its support shortly before the governor singed it into law.[11] As of August 2011, the lawsuit was pending.
Rubenfeld is the daughter of Milton Rubenfeld, and the sister of actor Paul Reubens (born Paul Rubenfeld). She is partnered, and has two daughters and a stepdaughter.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b Klemesrud, Judy (1971-12-16). "Never Underestimate Power of a Woman, Even at Princeton". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
- ^ a b Abby Rubenfeld on Zoominfo website, citing [www.opennashville.org/awards/abby_rubenfeld.htm Open Nashville website], cached at Archives for Open Nashville article. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
- ^ a b c d Rubenfeld Law firm website. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
- ^ a b "Abby R. Rubenfeld". Vanderbilt Law School. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
- ^ "Past Chairs". National Lesbian and Gay Law Association. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ "A Brief History of the American Bar Association". American Bar Association. 1999-08-05. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ a b "Gov. Signs Bill That Reverses Metro Non-Discrimination Law". NewsChannel5.com. 05-23-2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Howe et al. v. Haslam" (PDF). 06-13-2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c "Lawsuit To Be Filed Over Non-Discrimination Bill Reversal". NewsChannel5.com. 05-24-2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Cass, Michael (06-12-2011). "Councilman Mike Jameson among plaintiffs suing to overturn new state law". The Tennesseean. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Amanda Terkel (05-23-2011). "Tennessee Anti-Gay Bill Backed By State Chamber Of Commerce Puts Big Business In A Tough Spot". Huffington Post. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)