Webinar: The Lavender Scare: Then and Now

**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**

Our panel will discuss and analyze the “Lavender Scare” from a historical context. In addition, the panel will explore the evolution of legal protections for members of the LGBTQ+ community from the 1940s, 50s, and 60s to the present day. The discussion will highlight lessons from past challenges, examine how certain contemporary actions (or activities) may raise similar concerns, and consider how litigation has been, and can continue to be, a tool to safeguard the rights of the community.

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Presented by FBA LGBTQ+ Law Section 

Presenters

Hannah Marler (she/her) Litigator, Riess LeMieux, LLC (Panel Chair)

Hannah is an experienced litigator whose practice focuses on complex construction disputes. Through her practice, she provides legal guidance to clients across the construction industry, including contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and property owners.

With a keen understanding of the complexities involved in construction projects, Hannah is dedicated to protecting clients’ interests by examining every phase of a construction project from project inception and contract drafting to navigating disputes and litigation.

In litigation, Hannah brings a strategic and tenacious approach, effectively representing clients in mediation, arbitration, and courtroom settings. She has successfully handled cases involving breach of contract, lien enforcement, construction defects, and delay and inefficiency claims.

Hannah earned her Juris Doctor from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, where she was an active participant in the trial advocacy program and served on the Trial Advocacy Board. She is a member of the New Orleans Bar Association, American Bar Association, and Federal Bar Association and actively participates in professional organizations such as the LGBT Bar Association.

With a keen understanding of the complexities involved in construction projects, Hannah is dedicated to protecting clients’ interests with an eye toward the details. She is known for her strategic approach and strong advocacy, helping clients achieve successful outcomes while minimizing risks.

Outside of the office, Hannah can be found watching women’s soccer, supporting the arts, and volunteering with Edible Schoolyard New Orleans.

Huey Fischer García (he/him) Attorney, Southern Poverty Law Center  New Orleans, LA

A 2020 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, Huey is a staff attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, and he serves on the board of directors of the Young Lawyers Division of the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Jess Waltman (he/him), Attorney, Gordon Arata McCollam.

Jess represents clients in banking, energy, and environmental litigation matters. Before joining Gordon Arata, Jess litigated complex pharmaceutical and medical device cases in mass tort proceedings across the country. He is admitted to practice in Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, and Mississippi, in all federal courts in Louisiana and Mississippi, before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and before the United States Supreme Court.

Jess graduated, magna cum laude, from the University of Mississippi School of Law and was awarded the 2016 Outstanding Law Student Award by the faculty. He served as president of the Student Bar Association and as the executive online editor and alumni coordinator for the Mississippi Law Journal. A 2013 graduate of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and the Patterson School of Accountancy at the University of Mississippi, Jess was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi and the University of Mississippi Hall of Fame during his senior year.

Jess served as the president of the Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar for the 2022-2023 bar year, and he currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Human Rights Campaign and as a young lawyer fellow for the ABA Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. In 2023, Jess was honored as the New Lawyer of the Year by the Mississippi Association for Justice, and, in 2025, he was honored as one of the “Top 40” by the Young Lawyers Division of the Louisiana Bar.

An avid fan of Mardi Gras, Jess is a member of the Krewe of Armeinius, the Krewe of King Arthur, and the Krewe of Tucks.

• Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
• Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
• On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
• On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95