New York State of Mind

Friday night was obviously a big moment for New York, and for the rest of the nation, with N.Y.'s legislative passage of same-sex marriage.  Up in Connecticut, I watched the coverage online, and considered the ramifications of such a populous and important state joining the ranks of those that provide marriage equality.   I also considered anew how law teaching might change with marriage.  What are the implications for how we teach about family law, constitutional law, legislation, and trusts and estates?   How might we update things as simple as our hypos to reflect new realities? 

As a person who lives and works in two of the smaller states that have recognized same-sex marriage, I am very aware of the local nature of some aspects of the gay rights movement.  Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) data demonstrate that these regional differences play out among law schools as well.  A fair number of law schools still lack LGBTQ faculty, or courses dedicated to gay issues, or both.  LSAC information reinforces the impression that these gaps often (but not always) break down along regional lines, with fewer gay faculty or course offerings in states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas.  But for now, with apologies to Billy Joel, I'm in a "New York State of Mind."