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Simulive Replay

Pee-wee Herman and the Criminal Justice System’s History of Bias Against the Gay Community


Total Credits: 1 including 1 Elimination of Bias in the Legal Industry

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Categories:
Elimination of Bias |  Trial Practice
Faculty:
Philip Bogdanoff, Esq.
Course Levels:
Intermediate
Duration:
1:00
License:
Expires 60 day(s) after program date.

Dates



Description

In HBO's new documentary, ‘Pee-wee as Himself,’  we learn that Paul Reubens was openly gay but after he became famous and adopted his alter ego “Pee-wee Herman” he hid his sexuality.  

However, after his 1991 arrest for “indecent exposure" he was labeled a pervert, his shows were taken off television, and his career was severely damaged.  In 2001, law enforcement charged Paul Reubens with possession of child sexual abuse material when they seized what his attorney described as an  “extensive historical art photography collection.”  

In this presentation we will examine the criminal justice system’s long history of bias against the LGBTQ+  community. its sodomy laws that were used to criminalize  consensual sexual activity, and review case law from the United States Supreme Court sanctioning these prosecutions.   Finally, we will watch film clips of this documentary and discuss whether the criminal charges against Paul Reubens were based on bias against the LGBTQ+ community.
 

Handouts

Faculty

Philip Bogdanoff, Esq. Related Seminars and Products


Philip Bogdanoff is a nationally recognized continuing legal education speaker on the topics of ethics, professionalism, and other related topics. Previously, as an attorney, he served as assistant prosecutor in the Summit County, Ohio Prosecutor’s Office for more than 25 years, beginning in 1981. Mr. Bogdanoff argued cases before the Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals and twenty cases before the Ohio Supreme Court including six death penalty cases - before retiring as a senior assistant prosecutor. 
 
He is the author of numerous articles on ethics, professionalism and other related legal topics and has taught the members of numerous organizations including the National Association of Legal Administrators, as well as numerous state and local Bar associations, Prosecuting Attorney's Associations, and law firms. More information about Mr. Bogdanoff is available on his Web site at http://www.philipbogdanoff.com/.

 


Dates

Tue, Nov 18, 2025 - 10:00 AM

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