SENATOR SCHUMER, REP. MENG ANNOUNCE RECOMMENDATION OF GLENN MAGPANTAY FOR U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS; MAGPANTAY IS A LONG-TIME CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY, PROFESSOR OF LAW & ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES, AND LGBTQ RIGHTS ACTIVIST
Magpantay, An Expert Litigator on Civil Rights and Voting Rights Law, Is Filipino American And Will Be The Only Asian Pacific Islander Currently On The Commission; His Recommendation Also Enhances LGBTQ Representation
U.S. Commission On Civil Rights Is An Independent, Bipartisan Agency To Investigate Voting Rights Complaints, Assess Fed Laws & Policies, As Well As Submit Reports, Findings & Recs To Congress And The President
Schumer and Meng’s Recommendation Reflects The Diversity, Values, And Experiences Of New York’s Many Communities
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng announced that Glenn Magpantay has been recommended for appointment to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, for a term of six years. The Commission is comprised of eight commissioners, including four appointed by the president and four appointed by congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Schumer.
“I am proud to recommend the exceptional Glenn Magpantay for the United States Commission on Civil Rights,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. “Mr. Magpantay is a long-time civil rights attorney who worked at the Asian American Legal Defense Fund, a professor of law and Asian American Studies, and a LGBTQ rights activist. He has organized in the community and across the nation, and litigated civil rights cases for over 30 years. I am confident he will bring his extensive legal, leadership and academic experience to his work on the commission. Mr. Magpantay will be the only American Asian Pacific Islander on the commission and his appointment also enhances LGBTQ representation, and I am honored to recommend a commissioner who brings such thorough experience and expertise in American civil rights law, the Voting Rights Act and the values of equality and respect for all.”
“Glenn Magpantay is an outstanding citizen, neighbor, civil rights attorney and activist. I am honored to call him one of my constituents in Queens and proud to support Senator Schumer's recommendation of Glenn for the United States Commission on Civil Rights,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng. “Few people have the experience and passion as Glenn and that is showcased through his decades of work at the Asian American Legal Defense Fund and as an LGBTQ rights activist, recognized across the nation. Civil rights in the United States are a complex issue and they are best addressed through several different lenses. And while Glenn will be the only Asian American on the commission, his experience as a litigator, professor, activist, and author will bring a depth of knowledge that will help expand the commission’s ability to investigate claims of civil rights violations. Thank you to Senator Schumer for recommending such an amazing member of the Queens community, and I look forward to seeing all the work he will accomplish as a part of the commission.”
Glenn D. Magpantay, Esq. is a nationally experienced civil rights attorney, professor of law and Asian American Studies, and LGBTQ+ rights activist. Glenn also serves as the principal at Magpantay & Associates, a nonprofit consulting and legal services firm, chairs the LGBT Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York, and is an Advisor to the US Commission of Civil Rights. He previously served as the Co-founder and Executive Director of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) and as an attorney and Democracy Program Director at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, where his efforts were recognized by various of national organizations.
A leading authority on the Federal Voting Rights Act, Asian American political participation, and elections and census, Glenn has brought 15 briefs before the United States Supreme Court, testified before the United States Congress, published 20 scholarly legal and academic articles, and is a widely trusted news commentator for outlets such as The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Associated Press, MSNBC-TV, NBC Asian America, and The Advocate. In addition to being a renowned thought leader, Glenn has broken barriers over his 30-year career, including organizing the first-ever LGBTQ testimony before The White House Initiative on Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders. He is a graduate of the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook on Long Island and the New England School of Law in Boston. He has served as a Trustee to the Boehm Family Foundation and currently serves on the Gold Futures Challenge Selection Committee of Asian American Futures Fund.
The US Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) is an independent, bipartisan agency founded to research national civil rights policy and investigate claims of civil rights violations. Created by the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the commission is led by 8 Commissioners, half appointed by Congress and half by the President, with six-year terms and no more than four members being of the same political party at any given time. The agency specifically focuses on the deprivation of voting rights, equal protection under the law, and alleged discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin. Their work includes fact-finding to inform reports and recommendations to Congress and the President, conducting hearings on critical civil rights issues, the issuance of subpoenas for witness testimony and documents, and holding public briefings to promote greater public awareness of civil rights issues, protections, and enforcement.
