Chai Feldblum

Chai Feldblum is a renowned American lawyer, academic, and civil rights advocate, known for her work on disability rights, LGBT rights, and employment law. She has held various prominent positions, including serving as a Commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and as a Professor at the Georgetown University Law Center. Feldblum's work has been influenced by her experiences with disability rights advocates, such as Justin Dart and Judy Heumann, and her involvement with organizations like the National Organization on Disability and the Human Rights Campaign. Her academic background includes studying at Harvard University and Harvard Law School, where she was influenced by Lawrence Tribe and Laurence Silberman.

● Early Life and Education

Chai Feldblum was born in 1960 to a family of Jewish descent, with her parents being Rabbi David Feldblum and Bert Feldblum. She grew up in New York City and developed an interest in social justice and civil rights from a young age, inspired by figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. Feldblum attended Harvard University, where she studied American history and literature, and was influenced by historians like Arthur Schlesinger Jr. and Doris Kearns Goodwin. She then went on to attend Harvard Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree and was influenced by law professors like Lawrence Tribe and Laurence Silberman, and interacted with fellow students like Barack Obama and Merrick Garland.

● Career

Feldblum began her career as a law clerk for Judge Frank Coffin of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and later worked as a staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), where she collaborated with Ira Glasser and Nadine Strossen. She then joined the Georgetown University Law Center as a Professor, where she taught employment law and disability law, and worked with colleagues like Pamela Karlan and David Cole. Feldblum's work has been recognized by organizations like the National Association of the Deaf and the World Institute on Disability, and she has received awards like the Thurgood Marshall Award and the Sidney Hillman Foundation prize.

● Commission on Civil Rights

In 2010, Feldblum was appointed to the United States Commission on Civil Rights by President Barack Obama, where she served alongside Commissioners like Michael Yaki and Gail Heriot. During her tenure, the commission focused on issues like voting rights, police brutality, and LGBT rights, and released reports like the Peoples Report and the Civil Rights at a Crossroads report. Feldblum worked closely with civil rights leaders like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, and collaborated with organizations like the NAACP and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

● EEOC Commissioner

In 2010, Feldblum was also appointed as a Commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) by President Barack Obama, where she served alongside Chair Jacqueline Berrien and Commissioners like Constance Barker and Victoria Lipnic. During her tenure, the EEOC focused on issues like workplace discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, and released guidance like the ENforcement Guidance on Retaliation and the ENforcement Guidance on Pregnancy Discrimination. Feldblum worked closely with labor leaders like Richard Trumka and Linda Chavez-Thompson, and collaborated with organizations like the AFL-CIO and the National Employment Lawyers Association.

● Notable Positions and Advocacy

Feldblum has held various notable positions, including serving as a Director of the Federal Legislation Clinic at the Georgetown University Law Center, and as a Member of the National Advisory Committee on Vocational Rehabilitation. She has also been a Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley. Feldblum has advocated for issues like disability rights, LGBT rights, and workers' rights, and has worked with organizations like the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. She has received recognition for her work from organizations like the American Bar Association and the National Council on Disability.

● Personal Life

Feldblum is openly lesbian and has been a prominent advocate for LGBT rights throughout her career. She has been involved in various LGBT organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Feldblum has also been recognized for her work on disability rights, and has received awards like the Justice for All award from the National Organization on Disability. She has been influenced by LGBT leaders like Harvey Milk and Bayard Rustin, and has worked with disability rights activists like Judy Heumann and Justin Dart. Feldblum's work continues to be recognized by organizations like the American Association of People with Disabilities and the World Institute on Disability. Category:American lawyers