On August 27, Williams Institute scholars, represented by Boies Schiller Flexner LLC, filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in West Virginia v. B.P.J.  The case will consider whether West Virginia’s transgender sports ban violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and Title IX. 

To assess the constitutionality of the law, the Court must consider the longstanding principle that some groups may require protection from harmful actions taken by the majority. Key to this analysis is whether a group has enough political power to protect themselves through the democratic process.

Our brief presents empirical data documenting the political power of the transgender community, including population size, history of discrimination, barriers to voting, economic vulnerability, and exclusion from the political process.

The Williams Institute is seeking an Executive Director to help guide our next chapter. Candidates should have a passion for rigorous research on sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy, a strong appreciation for the Institute’s voice and values, and deep understanding of the policy issues facing LGBTQ communities. Ideal candidates will hold a J.D. or social science Ph.D., bring senior leadership experience, and have a proven record of innovation and collaboration across a broad range of partners and audiences.

Deadline to apply: January 2, 2026

We are looking for a law fellow to engage in cutting-edge and high-quality research and analysis related to sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy. The fellow will conduct legal and multidisciplinary research on the discrimination facing LGBTQ people, LGBTQ health, LGBTQ families, and the criminal justice system, among other topics. The position will be for a two-year term and will be based in Los Angeles, California.

Deadline to apply: January 17, 2026

The Williams Institute’s Global SOGIESC Research Grants Program is designed to encourage new empirical research focused on LGBTI+ populations in the least developed, low- and middle-income countries and amplify the voices of researchers from those regions. The program also aims to strengthen research capacity among participants by supporting networking and knowledge exchange (including a colloquium to present research findings) and providing mentorship, where needed, from Williams Institute scholars.

Save the date! On January 15, 2026, law and policy scholars will review the oral arguments in West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox, two Supreme Court cases about transgender girls and women in school sports. 

The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law is an academic research institute dedicated to conducting rigorous, independent research on sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy.