The Nominations Committee Needs You! NLGLA's Nominations Committee seeks new volunteer members

The Nominations Committee is a key NLGLA committee, but does not demand a great deal of time.  This Committee solicits, reviews and discusses nominees, and then makes recommendations to the Board of Directors for recipients of NLGLA’s  Allies for Justice (AfJ) Award and Dan Bradley Award (DBA).  This Committee also makes recommendations for the elected positions to the Board each year.

The Committee is currently seeking members; the only experience necessary is an interest in LGBT law and a willingness to volunteer.  The time commitment includes a couple of telephone meetings over the next month (for the AFJ and DBA award process) and then again during August (for new Board positions).  If you would like to join this committee, please send an email to the Committee Chair, Joni Thome, at Thome@Halunenlaw.com, outlining your interest in the committee. 

If you are unable to commit the time to volunteer, but would like to suggest a nominee for either the Ally for Justice Award (awarded to a self-identified straight legal professional, who has acted as an ally of our community), or for the Dan Bradley Award (the life-time achievement award, presented to an "out" legal professional), you may also forward those names to Joni, and please include a brief statement of the individual's contribution to social justice and your reason for nominating the party.

Please make sure that all submissions are received no later than February 28, 2006.

For more information on the Allies for Justice Award, please go to: http://www.nlgla.org/alliesforjustice.html

For more information on the Dan Bradley Award, please go to: http://www.lavenderlaw.org/2005/dan.bradley.html

Announcing this year's Michael Greenberg Writing Competition

Established in memory of Michael Greenberg, former NLGLA board member and Philadelphia attorney who died in 1996 from complications of AIDS, this exciting competition is dedicated to encouraging and recognizing outstanding law student scholarship on the legal issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex persons.

Submission Deadline: June 15, 2006

For more information, please click here.

Lavender Law 2005—San Diego!  Our most successful event yet!

Over 570 attendees came together in San Diego last fall to network, learn updates on LGBT law and take advantage of the nation's only LGBT career fair featuring over 60 employers.  Support from sponsors and law firms exceeded all expectations ensuring a sound financial future for Lavender Law. The National Board and staff will forever be indebted to the hard-working and fun team at the Tom Homann Bar Association who gave so willingly of their time and talents.

Thanks to all of you who attended Lavender Law 2005—San Diego. 

Dozens of photographs from the conference, the VIP reception, the career fair and the receptions can be found here. 

Gender Inclusive Victory in Washington State

The Washington state Senate passed a bill on January 27th, 2006 adding "sexual orientation" to the definitions of persons covered by the state's anti-discrimination law.  The bill includes gender expression and gender identity defining "sexual orientation" as "heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality and gender expression or identity."  Governor Christine Gregoire is expected to sign the bill shortly. 

Michael Heath, President of QLaw, Washington's LGBT bar association, said, "It is encouraging that the legislature recognized the diversity of people who experience discrimination.  The inclusion of gender expression and identity in the definition of sexual orientation will help ensure that persons who don’t conform to traditional gender roles are treated equally under the law."

To learn more about the legal definitions in the bill, or about QLaw, please click here.