News & Commentary written by Lenora M. Lapidus

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Lenora M. Lapidus

Former Director

Women's Rights Project, ACLU

Bio

Lenora Lapidus was the director of the ÌÒ×ÓÊÓÆµWomen’s Rights Project. She litigated gender discrimination cases in courts throughout the country, engaged in public policy advocacy, and spoke on gender equity issues in the media and to the public. Her work focused on economic justice, educational equity, ending gender-based violence, and women in the criminal justice system.

She and her colleagues won a unanimous ruling from the Supreme Court in AMP v. Myriad Genetics, striking down patents on the human BRCA genes, associated with breast and ovarian cancer. She also won a landmark victory from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Jessica Gonzales v. U.S., resulting in the issuance of historic guidance from DOJ to law enforcement on gender-biased policing. In 2015, she urged the EEOC to investigate the low number of women hired by studios to be directors for film and television, leading to an in-depth investigation.

Lapidus has received several awards and fellowships, including the Trailblazer Award from Women and Hollywood, 21 Leaders for the 21st Century from Women’s eNews, and the Wasserstein Fellowship for outstanding public interest lawyers from Harvard Law School. She graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School and summa cum laude from Cornell University.


Featured work

May 14, 2013

Mother's Day is Over - But Pregnancy Discrimination Isn't.

Mother's Day is Over - But Pregnancy Discrimination Isn't.

Apr 25, 2013

How Far Has The Women's Movement Moved In The Last 40 Years?

How Far Has The Women's Movement Moved In The Last 40 Years?

Apr 25, 2013

Are Genes Patentable? An Insider's Review of the ACLU's Supreme Court Argument on Gene Patenting

Are Genes Patentable? An Insider's Review of the ACLU's Supreme Court Argument on Gene Patenting

Apr 18, 2013

States Fight Back Against Pregnancy Discrimination

States Fight Back Against Pregnancy Discrimination

Mar 8, 2013

Bring Women's Human Rights Home

Bring Women's Human Rights Home

Jun 22, 2012

Title IX: Means More than Sports For My Daughter and All of Our Children

Title IX: Means More than Sports For My Daughter and All of Our Children

Jun 20, 2011

SCOTUS to Wal-Mart Women: You're on Your Own

SCOTUS to Wal-Mart Women: You're on Your Own

Jun 8, 2011

The War on Drugs = A War on Women and Families

The War on Drugs = A War on Women and Families

Jun 7, 2011

Louisiana School Board Suspends Sex-Segregation Program

Louisiana School Board Suspends Sex-Segregation Program

May 7, 2011

My Mother's Gift to Me

My Mother's Gift to Me