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Generous Gift UCLA Law School Launches Think Tank Dedicated to the Issues of Sexual Orientation and the Law

By Vince Catrone

Charles Williams has long been respected in the Los Angeles business community. The owner of his own firm, a former vice president at the Sperry Corp., a sought-after consultant, and even an instructor in business strategy classes, Williams is at the stage in his life where he doesn't owe anybody anything. Instead of resting on his laurels or taking off to the beach, however, the businessman decided to make a huge commitment in the fight against sexual-orientation discrimination.

For most people with an interest in fighting such discrimination, that would mean funding already-existing LGBT legal-rights organizations like the Human Rights Campaign or the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. Williams, however, took a different approach. With a $2.5 million gift to the UCLA School of Law, he led the way for the nation's first think tank dedicated to the field of sexual-orientation law and public policy, aptly named the Williams Project.

"Sexual orientation is one of the few discriminatory things that is still a part of the fabric of our society," Williams says. "When you step back and say, 'What's your objective?' you realize you would have to have changes in the [U.S.] Supreme Court and the state supreme courts."

The Williams Project, made possible by the largest donation ever given to any educational institution in support of a LGBT academic program, aims to be a national center for students, scholars, lawyers and judges to discuss and study research that contributes to the understanding of the law and how it applies to issues involving sexual orientation. "It's an historic first to have a think tank," says UCLA Law Professor Bill Rubenstein, who made a name for himself in the field with his work at the American Civil Liberties Union Gay and Lesbian Rights Project. "When I was in law school 20 years ago, there weren't even courses in sexual orientation." Over time, as additional books were published, schools added courses, and students studying the subject became professors, more and more people began talking about sexual-orientation law as a serious area of study.

One place that many of the first generation sexual-orientation discrimination scholars migrated to was UCLA. Besides Rubenstein, a number of faculty members, including Devon Carbado, Chris Littleton and the Project's director, Brad Sears, were already at the School of Law, making contributions to the field in their own rights. "UCLA is a remarkable place," Rubenstein adds. "It is a mix of very, very bright people, yet at the same time they care about what's happening in the real world. At a lot of elite institutions, all they care about is their ideas. I don't think that characterizes UCLA."

Initially, Williams had a more basic idea of what he wanted. "It evolved," he says of his idea for the gift. "I was thinking of something smaller, like endowing a chair." After discussions over what the different options were, and finding out there was no current think tank dealing with sexual-orientation law in place anywhere, the Williams Project and its connection to UCLA's law school made sense. But Williams was clear that the project not be an ivory tower, separate from the rest of the university. "It went to the School of Law with the agreement that it bring together people with other disciplines," he says. "I've learned a lot about all this. You don't go before a higher court without having a vast amount of research behind you. The thrust is to have a practical impact, not just an academic impact."

Although Williams says he has not experienced such discrimination himself, that doesn't mean he isn't concerned. "My belief is, if you're going to try to do something to make things better, you don't have to experience it yourself."

With strong support from School of Law Dean Jonathan D. Varat, the Williams Project has gone from one man's idea to being a working entity on the UCLA campus in record-setting time.

The Williams Project has already co-sponsored an event, and recently held its first symposium, featuring many nationally known LGBT law scholars and activists (see related article on page 57). During the 2002-03 academic year, the Williams Project plans to hold a judicial conference, a piece of programming Rubenstein sees as crucial to affecting change. "There is probably not a judge in the U.S. who has had a course on sexual-orientation law," he says. "One of the things we try to do is provide that."

For Williams, the next step is shoring up more funds to make the Project a full institute. "What we hope," he says, "is that people will say, 'Wow, this is awesome,' ands want to endow a scholarship." Full institute status would also allow for another full-time faculty position and visiting professorships. Rubenstein shares Williams' view. "What I would like to see is a think tank like the Brookings Institute or the RAND Corp. They have a name. When they publish something, it's trustworthy. That's the goal—to have a stature in the arena."

The RAND Corp., which was founded more than 50 years ago as a military technology think tank, has become one of the country's most respected research institutions on issues affecting American society from school class-size reduction to workers' compensation. In 1993 RAND was commissioned by the Pentagon to study the military's ban on gays. The report, which supported lifting the ban, was ignored by top military brass, but is still considered a groundbreaking and compelling study.

From Williams' point of view, there is plenty of work to be done. Adoption rights, domestic-partnership issues and LGBT youth issues are all areas where the Project hopes to create discussion and foster research. "There are all kinds of things to be done," he says. "The right to work—it's mind-boggling to think that's even a question." At a recent reception at the UCLA Law Library after the Project's symposium, Williams received accolades from numerous school officials. "I was humbled and felt proud," he says. "My baby was born, but the big thing now is getting others to feed it."

For more information on the Williams Project and upcoming events sponsored by the UCLA School of Law, access their Web site at www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute.

March 29, 2002 FRONTIERS