American Journal of Law & Medicine, 47 (2021): 76-87 © 2021 The Author(s) DOI: 10.1017/amj.2021.3 Beyond Diversity and Inclusion: Understanding and Addressing Ableism, Heterosexism, and Transmisia in the Legal Profession: Comment on Blanck, Hyseni, and Altunkol Wise’s National Study of the Legal Profession Shain A. M. Neumeier† and Lydia X. Z. Brown†† I. INTRODUCTION Far too many—if not most—of us in the legal profession who belong to both the disability and LGBTQþ communities have known informally, through our own experi- ences and those of others like us, that workplace bias and discrimination on the basis of disability, sexuality, and gender identity is still widespread. The new study by Blanck et al. on diversity and inclusion in the U.S. legal profession provides empirical proof of this phenomenon, which might otherwise be dismissed as being based on anecdotal evidence.1 Its findings lend credibility to our position that the legal profession must make systemic changes to address workplace ableism, heterosexism, and transmisia.2 They also suggest †Committee for Public Counsel Services, Mental Health Litigation Division. (The contents of this article are published in the author’s personal capacity.) ††Georgetown University, Disability Studies Program,
[email protected]. With thanks to Sara M. Acevedo Espinal, Jennifer Scuro, and Jess L. Cowing for support. 1Peter Blanck, Fitore Hyseni & Fatma Artunkol Wise, Diversity and Inclusion in the American Legal Profession: Discrimination and Bias Reported by Lawyers with Disabilities and Lawyers Who Identify as LGBTQþ,47Am. J.L. & Med. 9, 9 (2021) [hereinafter Blanck, et al., Discrimination and Bias].