News and Activities



Upcoming Events | Volunteer Work |Progressive Caucus |Past Events

Upcoming Events


For advance notice of upcoming meetings and social gatherings, sign up for the OUTLaw email list on Law Mail.

LGBT Rights in Prison
Speaker: Michele Deitch


Tuesday, March 4, 11:30 a.m.
Location: TBA (at the Law School)


Lunch provided by the Human Rights Law Society

Michele Deitch will be speaking about the safety, privacy, health, and support of prisoners who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender, with a particular emphasis on issues surrounding prison rape, and on issues related to the incarceration of transgender persons.

Professor Deitch drafted the ABA's proposed legal standards for the treatment of prisoners. She has served as General Counsel to the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee, and as Policy Director for Texas' sentencing commission.

In conjunction with the landmark prison reform case, Ruiz v. Estelle, she was appointed by Federal District Judge William Wayne Justice to serve as a full-time monitor of conditions in the Texas prison system. An expert on independent oversight of prisons, she has been invited to testify before the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission and the National Commission on Safety and Abuse in America's Prisons. She was awarded a Soros Senior Justice Fellowship, and was recognized by the Texas Legislature for her prison reform work.

She is currently an Adjunct Professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, teaching a cross-listed seminar called "Criminal Justice Policy: Sentencing and Corrections." She has also taught a seminar called "Prisons and Human Rights," and has partnered with the Law School's Supreme Court Clinic to prepare to take a major juvenile justice case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

All are welcome to attend the lecture and discussion, as part of the University of Texas Law School's "Progressive Week."



2008 GLBT Legal Advocacy Conference

April 4, 2008
1:00 - 5:00 pm


Future Events

We organize group outings to various arts events, and try to get group tickets when available. If you'd like to suggest an event, please contact us.



Volunteer Work

We believe in pro bono work and are involved in GLBT charitable activities in the Austin area.

OUTLaw members regularly volunteer their time at Project Transitions, a non-profit organization that provides support to people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. Here are some of the events where our members have volunteered.


StyleCup fashion show fundraiser
October 2006
Holiday Swing swing dance fundraiser
December 2006
Look Who's Coming to Dinner celebrity fundraiser
February 2007


Progressive Caucus

The Progressive Caucus was founded in the Fall of 2006 at the Law School as a collaborative effort by the American Constitutional Society, the Chicano/Hispanic Law Students Association, the National Lawyer's Guild, OUTLaw and the Thurgood Marshall Legal Society.

The Caucus aims to facilitate cooperation in hosting events geared towards civil rights and social justice issues.



Past Events


Human Rights Campaign Silver Gala 2007

Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom
Saturday, March 17, 2007
6:00-10:30 PM