Jon W. Davidson Papers, 1985-1995

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Summary

Creators:
Davidson, Jon W.
Abstract:
Correspondence, notes, intake logs, flyers and other material, 1985-1995, of Jon W. Davidson, former senior staff counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California. As former head of the Lesbian and Gay Rights Project of the ACLU of Southern California, Davidson was instrumental in numerous ACLU legal actions on behalf of gay and lesbian civil rights. The bulk of the material consists of requests for assistance submitted to the ACLU chapter in the early 1990s.
Extent:
0.6 linear foot. 1 archive carton.
Language:
Preferred citation:

[Box/folder #, or item name] Jon W. Davidson Papers, Coll2013-022, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection comprises correspondence, notes, intake logs, flyers and other material, 1985-1995, from Jon W. Davidson, former senior staff counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California. The bulk of the material consists of intake logs and requests for assistance submitted to the ACLU chapter in the early 1990s.

Biographical / historical:

Jon W. Davidson is a graduate of Stanford University and Yale Law School. In the early years of his law career, Davidson served as a law clerk, and went on to become associate then partner in private practice in Los Angeles, where he specialized in litigation in the media and entertainment industry. In 1988, he joined the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, where he served as staff counsel and became head of the Lesbian and Gay Rights Project in that chapter. As head of the Lesbian and Gay Rights Project, Davidson was instrumental in numerous ACLU legal actions on behalf of gay and lesbian civil rights. Following his time at the ACLU of Southern California, Davidson moved on to work as counsel for Lambda Legal in 1995.

As Legal Director at Lambda Legal, "Davidson has been counsel in cases that have won lesbians and gay men the freedom to marry; protect domestic partner benefits against attack; championed the rights of LGBT students; secured asylum for LGBT people persecuted in their home countries; and put an end to HIV-related discrimination in employment, insurance and public accommodations. Davidson also has helped reform antigay practices of the Los Angeles Police Department and was the co-drafter of AB 205, California's Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act."

Source:

"Staff: Jon W. Davidson," Lambda Legal, http://www.lambdalegal.org/about-us/staff/jon-w-davidson (last accessed February 27, 2013).

Acquisition information:
Donor and date of acquisition unknown.
Processing information:

Collection processed by Loni Shibuyama, February 2013.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged alphabetically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Preferred citation:

[Box/folder #, or item name] Jon W. Davidson Papers, Coll2013-022, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Location of this collection:
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007, US
Contact:
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu
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