Professor Brandon Stump has been invited by Emory University School of Medicine to speak at their annual Autism Celebration Month event. The organizers were impressed by his article on Superman and stare decisis, prompting them to reach out to him for participation. Set to take place on Thursday, April 18, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom, this year’s event will revolve around the theme of “Pathways and Passions.” What sets this event apart is its unique approach of bringing together three Autistic academics to discuss their individual research endeavors, which need not necessarily focus solely on Autism-related topics. This initiative aims to counter the common trend where disabled individuals are often pigeonholed into speaking solely about their disability, neglecting their other areas of expertise and interests.

In his upcoming presentation, Professor Stump will delve into his recent research examining the potential for establishing a labor union specifically tailored for drag queens participating in reality television shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race. Despite recent successes achieved by SAG-AFTRA, reality show casts remain excluded from these organizing efforts. Thus far, the National Labor Relations Board has yet to address the question of whether contestants on reality shows are covered under the National Labor Relations Act. With a growing commitment among production companies to diversify reality show casts intentionally, the absence of labor protections poses a significant concern. This situation risks creating an unprotected and disadvantaged pathway for marginalized individuals working in reality television.

Click the link below to learn more about the event or access the virtual Zoom event directly: https://www.emoryautismadvocacy.org/acm/researchsymposium