2008 Dan Bradley Award Winners: Shannon Minter and Therese Stewart
Each year, through its Dan Bradley Award, the NLGLA recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the struggle for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality. This year’s honorees are being singled out for their remarkable achievements in the fight for marriage equality. Thanks in no small part to the efforts of Minter and Stewart, the nation's most populous state, has begun offering State-level legal recognition to same-sex civil marriages and is the first to allow out-of-state couples to wed.
To learn more about this year’s recipients or previous winners of the Dan Bradley Award, please visit the following links:
Allies for Justice Award Winner: Veta Richardson
Richardson has consistently included LGBT issues in her work at MCCA, an organization founded in 1997 to advocate for the expanded hiring, retention, and promotion of minority attorneys in corporate law departments and the law firms that serve them. The MCCA accomplishes its mission through the collection and dissemination of information about diversity in the legal profession. In her leadership role, Richardson planned and published Creating Pathways to Diversity®: Perspectives from the Invisible Bar — Gay & Lesbian Attorneys in the Profession. Originally published in 2004, it was one of the first collections of articles and research to examine how sexual orientation affects attorneys in law firms and law departments. The collection also included specific recommendations for LGBT-friendly recruiting and hiring practices, employment policies and retention efforts. Four years later, it remains the standard for developing a culture of inclusion in the profession. For more information about Veta Richardson, the MCCA, the Allies for Justice award ceremony or a list of previous winners, please visit the following:
Help Protect Same-Sex Marriage in California
Members residing outside California can also play a pivotal role by staying informed on the issue, educating others about the negative impact a constitutional amendment would have on LGBT families, and encouraging them to get involved or consider making a financial contribution to Equality for All. For more information, please visit the following: Early Registration Ends July 31st!
Early Registration Time is running out to take advantage of reduced registration rates for Lavender Law 2008. Early registration ends on July 31st at 11:59pm (PDT). To register now and save up to $75, please use the following links:
Savings for Members NLGLA members can save up to an additional $275! Please note that you must be signed into the NLGLA Member Community to take advantage of the members’ only rate: Lavender Law Host Hotel Almost Sold Out! With only eight weeks to go before the 2008 Lavender Law Career Fair and Conference in San Francisco, the host hotel (the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero) is almost sold out. To guarantee a room at the discounted Lavender Law rate, please make your hotel reservations as soon as possible.
Lavender Law Workshops/Speakers AnnouncedEach year, the NLGLA is committed to providing a level of programming for the Lavender Law Career Fair and Conference that is of the highest quality and of the most relevance to the LGBT legal community. Through our series of plenary sessions and concurrent workshops, we strive to bring together a coalition of leaders and experts on cutting edge legal topics (Intersex Infants and Elective Genitoplasty: Issues of Consent), current legal developments (From Massachusetts to California: How to Achieve Federal Recognition of Our Marriages; Beyond ENDA, Capitol Hill and the 110th Congress: Current Issues for Practitioners in LGBT/HIV Employment Law), and trainings for those seeking judicial appointments (So You Want to Be a Judge?). This year’s groundbreaking array of workshops is, by far, the best in Lavender Law’s 20 year history. To see the complete list of plenary sessions, concurrent workshops and speakers for Lavender Law 2008, or to download the continuing legal education (CLE) materials that will be used in the workshops, please use the following links:
Compare Employment Benefits Offered by Lavender Law Recruiters
All firms and organizations wishing to recruit at the Lavender Law Career Fair are asked during the registration process to fill out a questionnaire concerning the employment benefits offered to LGBT employees. While a non-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation is a prerequisite for recruiting at the career fair, firms/organizations are also asked whether their firm/organization:
To view a complete list of recruiters participating in the Lavender Law Career Fair or to see how participating firms/organizations compare on employment benefits offered to LGBT employees, please use the following links:
Employment Opportunities
To view a complete list of current job opportunities, please visit the NLGLA Job Board where you can also post a job descriptions or resume, browse through submitted resumes or apply for any openings. Upcoming Regional EventsGo to http://www.nlgla.org/calendar.html for the full listings. Questions? Please contact Juan. Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom Lavender Law Kick Off Party - San Francisco, CA Wednesday, July 23, 2008 6:00pm Varnish Fine Art Gallery, 77 Natoma St, San Francisco, CA The National Lesbian and Gay Law Association (NLGLA) and its colleagues and co-founders of Lavender Law, the Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF) are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Lavender Law with a mid-summer celebration and kick off party. The NLGLA and BALIF would like to extend a complimentary invitation to all friends of Lavender Law, including judges, attorneys, law students, members and non-members alike, to join us for an evening of celebration, art and wine. Click here to RSVP. Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association Happy Hour - Boston, MA Wednesday, July 23, 2008 5:30pm Paris Lounge, Faneuill Hall Marketplace, Quincy Market Building, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA Come join your friends and colleagues for MLGBA's Boston-area Happy Hour at Parris Lounge at Ned Devine's on Wednesday, July 23rd, beginning at 5:30 PM. Parris Lounge is conveniently located on the second floor of the Quincy Market Building near Faneuil Hall. For directions, click here. GAYLAW Annual Summer Job Talk and Reception - Washington, DC Thursday, July 24, 2008 6:00pm GAYLAW Sponsor Firm ReedSmith LLP, 1301 K St NW, Washington, DC Hear LGBT lawyers discuss their experiences being out in firms, government, in-house, and at non-profits. For more information, contact Austin Fulk. Lawyers for Diversity Mid-Summer Barbecue - Chicago, IL Thursday, July 24, 2008 6:00pm Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted Street, Chicago, IL Lawyers for Diversity welcomes judges, legal professionals and law students to its Fourth Annual Lawyers for Diversity Mid-Summer Barbecue, which will take place on Thursday, July 31, 2008 from 6-8pm at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60657 (Roscoe and Halsted). For additional information or law firm sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jeremy Gottschalk. LAGBAC members are invited to attend Lawyers for Diversity as guests of LAGBAC. Non members and guests will be charged for admission. Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago Board Meeting - Chicago, IL Monday, August 4, 2008 6:00pm Offices of Bell, Boyd, Lloyd, 70 W. Madison Street, #3100, Chicago, IL All LAGBAC members and prospective members are welcome and encouraged to attend. If you wish to attend a meeting or have any questions, please contact Jeremy Gottschalk. GAYLAW Social Thursday, August 14, 2008 7:00pm Elephant & Castle, 1201 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC Monthly opportunity to network with members of GAYLAW (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender attorneys of Washington, DC). Please visit www.gaylaw.org for more information.
Want to feature your events in the NLGLA newsletter and in the NLGLA Online Community Event Calendar? Click here to submit an event.
LGBT Law Student Groups: Become a Member of the NLGLA! The NLGLA strongly encourages all LGBT Law Student Groups to become a member of the NLGLA. By signing up in advance of the Lavender Law Career Fair and Conference (September 4-6th), LGBT law student groups can get the latest updates on Lavender Law events and activities that will be specifically geared towards law students. Registering your LGBT Law Student Group as a member of NLGLA is quick, easy, and (best of all) FREE! Ensure your law school's LGBT group stays up to date on NLGLA programs, Lavender Law announcements, and much, much more! Register your LGBT Law Student Group TODAY! Questions? Please contact Justin Johnsat Justin@nlgla.org. Renew Your NLGLA Membership In order to keep receiving the exceptional benefits of an NLGLA Membership, be sure to renew yours if it is expiring. Members can safely pay dues with a credit card through our secure website. Read all about NLGLA Membership at NLGLA.org (includes links for becoming a member and renewing dues) |
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Dan Bradley, the first chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities’ Committee on the Rights of Gay People (now the Committee for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity), strongly believed the law could be used as a means to create positive, social change for the most vulnerable in our society. The Supreme Court victory in California, wrought by Minter and Stewart, is a powerful affirmation of Dan Bradley’s legacy and vision.
The NLGLA is proud to announce that Veta Richardson, Executive Director of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA), is the winner of the 2008 Allies for Justice Award. The Allies for Justice Award recognizes a legal professional who, in their position of leadership, has allied with the LGBT community to make a noteworthy contribution to the struggle for civil rights and equality in the field of law. 
On June 16th, the state of California began issuing civil marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The NLGLA applauded the State Supreme Court’s decision and its strong message of equality for the LGBT families. However, in early June the California Secretary of State certified a voter initiative to appear on the November ballot. This initiative would amend the constitution and strip the constitutionally protected rights from same-sex couples. The NLGLA is committed to working against this unfair and discriminatory measure. 
