Mary C. Dunlap facts for kids

Mary Cynthia Dunlap (born May 25, 1948 – died January 17, 2003) was an American civil rights lawyer. She worked in San Francisco, California. She was known for fighting for fairness and equal rights for many different groups of people. She also led San Francisco's Office of Citizen Complaints (OCC).

Early Life and Education

Mary Dunlap was born in Napa, California. Her father was also a lawyer. She went to Napa High School. After high school, she studied at the University of California, Berkeley. She earned her first degree there in 1968.

Then, she went to UC Berkeley School of Law and became a lawyer in 1971. While in law school, she and other students started a group called the Boalt Hall Women's Association. This group helped women in law school.

Career as a Civil Rights Lawyer

Mary Dunlap spent her career working for civil rights. This means she helped make sure everyone had fair and equal treatment under the law.

Fighting for Equal Rights

In 1973, Mary Dunlap helped start a special law firm. It was called Equal Rights Advocates. This firm focused on laws about fairness for everyone, especially in cases where people were treated differently because of their gender.

She often spoke out about important issues. For example, in 1976, she debated the Equal Rights Amendment. This was a proposed change to the U.S. Constitution to guarantee equal rights for all citizens, no matter their gender.

Mary Dunlap also took on important legal cases:

• In 1977, she helped a pregnant teacher. The teacher was forced to take time off from her job. Mary Dunlap argued that this was not fair.
• In 1984, she represented many women in a big lawsuit. They argued that laundries were charging women more for cleaning clothes than men. She famously said that cleaning a shirt should cost the same for everyone.
• In 1987, she represented the Gay Games. This was a sports event for LGBTQ+ athletes. She defended their right to use the word "Olympics" in their name before the highest court in the U.S.
• In 1989, she helped a professor named Eleanor Swift. This case was about a special job status for professors at UC Berkeley School of Law.
• She also supported Black firefighters. They were challenging how the San Francisco Fire Department hired new people. She helped them fight for fair hiring practices.
• Mary Dunlap was also involved in the early work of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. This group works for the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

Leading the Office of Citizen Complaints

In 1996, Mary Dunlap was chosen to lead San Francisco's Office of Citizen Complaints (OCC). In this important role, she was in charge of an office that looked into complaints against city police officers. This helped make sure police were fair and followed the rules.

She also taught law at several universities. These included the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, Golden Gate University, Stanford University, and the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Later Life and Legacy

Mary Dunlap became sick in 2001. She passed away in 2003 when she was 54 years old. She was survived by Maureen Mason.

After her death, many people honored her work.

• In 2004, a special issue of the Berkeley Women's Law Journal was dedicated to her.
• In 2005, the first Mary Dunlap Fellowships were given out at Berkeley. These fellowships help students who want to work for social justice.
• Also in 2005, the first Mary C. Dunlap Memorial Lecture was held. This lecture focuses on fairness for all genders and social justice.
• Her work with the Gay Games is shown in a movie called Claiming the Title: Gay Olympics on Trial (2009).

Mary Dunlap is remembered as a strong voice for fairness and equal rights for everyone.