This Sunday, May 17, marks International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia. In keeping with this year's theme — At the Heart of Democracy — the United Nations LGBTI Core Group invited Ari Shaw, Senior Fellow and Director of International Programs, to share findings from his recent research on democratic backsliding and LGBTI rights at a roundtable event called "Rooted in Rights: LGBTIQ Communities and the Future of Democracy."

LGBTI communities are not only on the frontlines of democratic backsliding. They are, in many cases, fundamental to the efforts to strengthen democratic resilience. 

- Ari Shaw, Senior Fellow and Director of International Programs

The Williams Institute awards the Gleason/Kettel Summer Law Fellowship to a law student or recent law school graduate who will receive a stipend of up to $6,000 to work in the field of sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy.

The Gleason/Kettel Summer Law Fellowship is committed to inspiring law students to pursue careers in sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy and to identifying the next generation of leaders committed to promoting rights and equity for the LGBTQ community. 

Deadline to apply: May 15, 2026

Join us on Thursday, May 28, for a lunchtime webinar presenting new research on older LGBTQ adults. Policy experts from organizations that serve and advocate for older LGBTQ adults will also discuss public policy concerns and challenges facing this community.

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.