2 01 8 ANNUAL REPORT LGBT BAR ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION OF GREATER NEW YORK
STONEWALL AT 50 OUR FIGHT CONTINUES This year marks the 50 th anniversary But it isn t all fighting back there Today many in our community rightly of the Stonewall Uprising The have been some real triumphs feel like they are under attack from LGBTQ community has made many The November election in New the federal government particularly important advances over the LGBT York State marked the dawn of transgender people new immigrants Bar Association of Greater New a new era an era in which all LGBTQ youth low income people York s LeGaL 41 years but there is New Yorkers no matter their queer people of color and people still so much work to be done gender can feel protected under with multiple intersecting identities our law against the rollbacks In 2018 with the help of our volunteer and attacks coming from the attorneys LeGaL served over 2 000 federal government After 17 years LGBTQ people by providing free legal of struggle GENDA banning assistance through our walk in clinics discrimination against transgender and helpline We have been battling nonstop to limit damage to the cause of equality resulting from the current administration in Washington LeGaL is vital to that work as is our collective visibility and we are unequivocally committed to carrying forth our message at every level of Justice into law On the same historic day our State also banned the barbaric practice of conversion therapy LeGaL was quick to oppose the confirmation New Yorkers was finally signed Brett Kavanaugh and we will continue to stand with survivors of sexual assault We joined an amicus brief opposing Trump s hateful transgender military ban and we will continue to support our brave At Pride LeGaL proudly marched under a banner that read OUT Lawyers Fighting Injustice We take this mission seriously That is why While Trump continues to appoint we are dedicated to cultivating new federal judges who are openly LGBTQ legal professionals through hostile to the equal dignity of our Mentorship Program our LGBTQ LGBTQ people LeGaL s Judiciary Career Fair and our one of a kind Committee is working overtime to LGBTQ Judicial Fellowship ensure that New York courts are fair and impartial trans troops Thank you for being a part of this work You are LeGaL and with your help we continue the fight for full equality and justice for ALL Eric Lesh Executive Director Kristen Prata Browde Board President 2018 Annual Report 1
advocacy Representation OUR WORK LeGaL strives to ensure full equality for LGBTQ individuals and to increase access to justice by providing free legal services to members of our community LeGaL is uniquely positioned as a point of entry into the legal system for members of the LGBTQ community because of our clinics helpline and portal for online inquiries Through the leadership of LeGaL Legal Director Brett Figlewski we endeavor to identify litigants with compelling cases that may have a wider impact for our community work with us on important lgbtq cases Team up with LeGaL to research and write critically important amicus briefs or co counsel with us on high profile cases HIGHLIGHTS LeGaL and the law firm Kobre Kim launched a Prisoners Rights Project to advocate and fight for incarcerated LGBTQ people LeGaL continues to fight Trump s transgender military ban alongside our civil rights partners and filed an amicus brief in Doe v Trump LeGaL was the sole amicus in Gunn v Hamilton in which the New York Appellate Division First Department acknowledged equitable principles advocated by LeGaL for recognition of the rights of non biological non adoptive parents LeGaL was represented by the law firm of Latham Watkins LLP Virginia F Tent Matthew J Pickel Iris H Xie and Naseem Faquihi Alawadhi 2 2018 Annual Report
MEET OUR CLIENTS THE BARBOURS MONICA S CASE ASYLUM CASES The New York Appellate Divison Second Monica has not seen her son in over a year LeGaL filed a petition for asylum Department recognized the equal because her former partner refuses to for an LGBTQ asylum seeker fleeing dignity of same sex spouses and their return him from the Dominican Republic persecution and likely death if forced children in a victory for LGBTQ families We are fighting for Monica and the equal to return to native Saudi Arabia LeGaL The Court applied the principles of rights of all non biological non adoptive has seen a massive spike in requests the landmark case Brooke B in which parents With Monica s case LeGaL for legal assistance with immigration LeGaL was co counsel New York s remains at the forefront of the legal and asylum matters highest court overruled prior precedent battle to secure and protect the rights holding that Brooke and parents like the of LGBTQ families across New York State Barbours have equal parenting rights Co counsel Latham and Watkins LLP Co counsel The Kurland Group 2018 Annual Report 3
If you think conversion therapy is not a Westchester problem you re wrong If you do a Google search you will find there are places that do this kind of therapy right near us Kristen Prata Browde LeGaL President on Westchester County s unanimous vote to ban conversion therapy 4 2018 Annual Report
VOLUNTEERS become a volunteer LGBTQ community possible In 2018 LeGaL had 27 active volunteer attorneys Help us serve the community by volunteering at one of our walk in legal Clinics Our flagship Clinic at the LGBT Center meets the legal needs of low income LGBTQ New Yorkers every Tuesday evening CONNECTIONS represent lgbtq clients As part of LeGaL s effort to provide and increase access to high Join our Pro Bono Panel and help us place vulnerable members of our community in the right hands Join our Lawyer Referral Network to connect with potential feepaying clients who have contacted LeGaL in searching for an attorney Volunteers are the heart and soul of LeGaL s free legal services At our 2018 Volunteer Thanksgiving and Awards Night hosted by Seyfarth Shaw LLP we recognized Caitlin McCarey and Nicholas Tomasetti for outstanding dedication David Caraway for excellence in legal representation Latham Watkins LLP with Virginia Tent for law firm leadership and Bender Rosenthal LLP with Jennifer Sundt for pro bono excellence Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers who make LeGaL s work on behalf of the quality culturally competent legal services for members of the LGBTQ community we offer a Pro Bono Panel and a Lawyer Referral Network In 2018 LeGaL s Clinic continued as an entirely paperless operation and now utilizes our own customized and secure online platform allowing our volunteer attorneys to conduct consultations and submit information seamlessly for follow up and referral LEGISLATION LeGaL s legislative and policy advocacy efforts focus on a host of initiatives such as passing statewide non discrimination protections for trans and gender non conforming New Yorkers banning the harmful practice of conversion therapy keeping advocate Join us for rallies and meetings with legislators or participate in our annual Lobby Day in Albany so called gay trans panic defenses out of our courtrooms and much more 2018 Annual Report 5
wa l k in legal clinics LeGaL provides a critical service for LGBTQ LGBTQ Youth Qlinic LeGaL s volunteer New Yorkers especially lower income attorneys offer holistic consultations and members of our community through referrals to members of our community our free walk in clinics Our Tuesday and help with any number of legal issues night Clinic has been running for over 30 including housing immigration family years In 2018 LeGaL proudly operated law matters criminal issues employment five clinics including our Saturday night discrimination and more LEGAL HELPLINE LeGaL s Helpline fields legal inquiries and requests for referrals and provides information about our walk in clinics In 2018 this free Helpline continued to experience a surge in calls from LGBTQ community members with over 2 000 requests for legal assistance
2018 LEGAL SERVICES CLINIC AND HELPLINE STATISTICS 2200 1200 100 Requests referrals clinic sessions LeGaL received nearly LeGaL referred 1 200 LeGaL held over 100 2 200 requests for legal consultations to the free walk in legal clinic services through its online attorneys on its Lawyer sessions in 2018 platform and legal clinics Referral Network 1 STATEN ISLAND 10 10 11 BRONX ESTATES 12 QUEENS 22 17 20 FAMILY LAW 61 YRS 21 30 YRS CRIMINAL 14 BROOKLYN 65 16 MANHATTAN HOUSING 22 DISCRIMINATION 19 24 51 60 YRS 31 40 YRS 17 20 IMMIGRATION 41 50 YRS boroughs practice areas age range The Clinic advised clients from all The Clinic delivered services across The Clinic reached LGBTQ five NYC boroughs many practice areas adults of all ages 2018 Annual Report 7
building networks expertise LGBT LAW NOTES LeGaL s LGBT Law Notes is the most comprehensive monthly publication covering the latest legal and legislative developments affecting the LGBTQ community For over four decades New York Law School Professor Arthur Leonard has served as editor and chief writer 2018 LAW NOTES ISSUES Resist January The Looming October SCOTUS Term September Waiting For Cake February Colonial Era Sodomy Goes Down But For Sex March October No License To Discriminate April Administration Continues to Trans Military Ban Must Survive November Target Transgender Community Strict Scrutiny May Trump s Trans Military Ban to Let Us Eat Cake June Justice Kennedy Out Summer 8 2018 Annual Report SCOTUS December
PODCAST EPISODES NOV 30 Domestic HIV Law and Policy Talk for World AIDS Day Scott Schottes Lambda Legal OCT 30 Preparing for a Progressive Takeover of the Courts Chris Kang former Chief Counsel to President Obama SEPT 20 BiLawrriors All about the B in LGBT Nancy Marcus Co founder of BiLaw SEPT 17 The Looming October SCOTUS Term Arthur Leonard Professor at New York Law School SEPT 13 An LGBTQ Legislative Agenda for a New New York Kristen Prata Browde LeGaL President Sam Brinton The Trevor Project SEPT 10 Stop Kavanaugh What We Learned from The Hearing Omar Gonzalez Pagan Lambda Legal AUG 14 You Better Clerk Is a Judicial Clerkship Right for You Ashlee Crawford New York State Courts Michael E Lynch Epstein Becker Green Audrey J Juarez LeGaL s 2018 Hank Henry Fellow CUNY 2020 AUG 02 A Religious Litmus Test for Serving LGBTQ Youth at Risk Christina Wilson Remlin Children s Rights JUNE 05 Masterpiece Cakeshop Not the Win We Hoped for Not the Loss We Feared Arthur Leonard Professor at New York Law School LEGAL LGBTQ PODCAST The LeGaL LGBTQ Podcast features lively discussion of legal issues impacting the LGBTQ community LeGaL Executive Director Eric Lesh interviews LGBTQ lawyers policy wonks and activists The LGBT Law Notes episode with Arthur Leonard digs into three important new LGBTQ civil rights rulings By the end of 2018 the podcast had reached a total of almost 100 episodes and over 91 000 downloads 2018 Annual Report 9
CLE PROGRAMS EDUCATIONAL EVENTS LeGaL is an accredited CLE provider We host several CLEs and educational programs throughout the year for the legal community and our members LeGaL also partners with other organizations to deliver a wide range of CLE programs and panel discussions sponsor or host an event Sponsor or host one of our amazing educational or networking events SCOTUS Preview CLE LawSuited for Pride Sponsor American Host Proskauer Rose LLP Constitution Society ACS Host Simpson Thacher Bartlett LLP Masterpiece Cakeshop LGBTQ New York Rapid Response Partner Equality NY Domestic Violence CLE Family Defense Cases and Remedies Being Out In House CLE Sponsor New York Legal Host Reed Smith LLP Assistance Group NYLAG Feinmania Conversation SAGE Elder Law CLE Ethical Practice in Surrogate s Court Sponsor SAGE Center LGBTQ A Speaker Series Bar Leaders Host Nixon Peabody LLP Weaponizing the Web Against Host Nixon Peabody LLP LGBTQ People National Call in Partners National Center for Lesbian Rights NCLR HRC NAACP Alliance for Justice United We Dream 2018 Annual Report Co Sponsor Network of Global Fight for LGBTQ People SCOTUS Justice Nomination 10 with Hon Paul G Feinman Host Centre for Social Innovation CSI LGBTQ Law Year in Review CLE Host Davis Polk Wardwell LLP
NETWORKING EVENTS We are social Who said lawyers can t be fun Thanks to our Networking and Social Events Committee chaired by Nicholas Corsano and our Diversity Commitee chaired by Bill Crosby Robert Maldonado in 2018 LeGaL presented numerous opportunities for members to meaningfully engage with each other and the broader legal and LGBTQ communities including 7th Annual Judicial Reception Lavender Law Afterparty Sponsor Weitz Luxenberg Partner National Transgender Bar Association Wintry Mixer Holiday Party Sponsors Prelude Capital Hinshaw Culbertson LLP Sponsor Proskauer Rose LLP Capital District Pride Sponsor Greenberg Traurig Back to School Diversity Mixer Partner Hispanic National Bar Association TMPL Gym Sip n Sweat Sponsor TMPL Gym Ladies Night Bowling Leadership Council Pride Prep Host Brooklyn Bowl Partner Asia Society LGBT Leo Bar Fire Island Pool Party Sponsor Absolut Vodka Yuasa Menswear A Very Special Broadway Night at The Prom Partner Hetrick Martin Institute 2018 Annual Report 11
activism leadership LGBTQ ADVOCACY In 2018 the LGBTQ community faced enormous challenges and achieved significant victories LeGaL was on the frontlines fighting for justice and equality The Trump Administration cannot erase transgender people We believe survivors Senate must investigate sexual assault allegations and halt Kavanaugh s confirmation Trump SCOTUS pick Brett Kavanaugh threatens Justice Kennedy s LGBTQ Rights legacy LeGaL s Judicial Screening Trump s Muslim Ban defies this country s LeGaL strongly condemns Trump s heartless family separation and indefinite detention practices LeGaL is outraged by the New York State Senate s shameful refusal to protect transgender New Yorkers LeGaL urges Senate to reject antiLGBTQ Kyle Duncan s nomination to the Fifth Circuit Court most basic principles Panel is one of the few judicial candidate review boards in the country primarily dedicated to ensuring fair sensitive JUDICIARY COMMITTEE and impartial judges who will LeGaL s Judiciary Committee is working to ensure fair and impartial courts uphold the rights of LGBTQ Chaired by Janice B Grubin and Michael J Weiner the sixteen members had people We are very proud of a busy productive and influential 2018 From August through November our work Janice B Grubin LeClairRyan Judiciary Committee Chair 12 2018 Annual Report screening panels of the Committee interviewed and evaluated candidates for judicial office LeGaL s Judicial Screening Panel interviewed a record thirty one candidates for New York State judicial office this season
2018 community vision honorees Annual Dinner CELEBRATING 40 YEARS Loretta E LyncH 83rd Attorney General of the United States Hon Paul G Feinman New York Court of Appeals THE ANNUAL DINNER SUPPORTS THE CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE Le Ga L FOUNDATION As part of the Annual Dinner Ceremony LeGaL presents Community Vision Awards to honor individuals or organizations with a distinguished record of service to the LGBTQ community including a sustained commitment to achieving equal rights for all members of our community Pl atinum sponsors Davis Polk Wardwell LLP The Morrison Foerster Foundation Weitz Luxenberg P C GOLD sponsors Cleary Gottlieb Steen Hamilton LLP Cooper Dunham LLP McCarter English LLP Outten Golden LLP Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP Rosenberg Estis P C Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Sullivan LLP Wachtell Lipton Rosen Katz silver sponsors Allen Overy LLP Arnold Porter Kaye Scholer LLP Bender Rosenthal LLP Blank Rome LLP Boies Schiller Flexner LLP Borah Goldstein Altschuler Nahins Goidel P C Bracewell LLP Bryan Cave LLP Cadwalader Wickersham Taft LLP Capell Barnett Matalon Schoenfeld LLP Carol L Buell Law Mediation PLLC Cooley LLP Covington Burling LLP Cravath Swaine Moore LLP CUNY School of Law Debevoise Plimpton LLP Epstein Becker Green P C Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP Fried Frank Harris Shriver Jacobson LLP Gibson Dunn Crutcher LLP Hinshaw Culbertson LLP Hon Paul G Feinman Jenner Block LLP Kahn Goldberg LLP Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP Kelley Drye Warren LLP Kirkland Ellis LLP Kramer Levin Naftalis Frankel LLP Latham Watkins LLP LeClairRyan P C Loeb Loeb LLP Lowenstein Sandler LLP MetLife Moses Singer LLP National LGBT Bar Association O Melveny Myers LLP Orrick Herrington Sutcliffe LLP Patterson Belknap Webb Tyler LLP Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton Garrison LLP Proskauer Rose LLP Reed Smith LLP Richard Freiman Associates PLLC San Diego Fertility Center Severance Burko Spalter Masone P C Seyfarth Shaw LLP Skadden Arps Slate Meagher Flom LLP Sullivan Cromell LLP Susman Godfrey LLP The Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm The Kurland Group The Law Office of Erica Bell PLLC Willkie Farr Gallagher LLP WilmerHale Jillian T Weiss Of Counsel Outten Golden
law student opportunities LeGaL is committed to the advancement and development of aspiring LGBTQ legal professionals We offer several programs events and networking opportunities to further the growth of LGBTQ law students HANK HENRY JUDICIAL FELLOWSHIP LeGaL s 23 year old Dr M L Hank Henry Jr Judicial Fellowship Program remains one of a kind by offering the chance to work with and rotate among several different judges during a 10 week summer period The fellows get a first hand look at the work of openly gay and lesbian judges in federal district court state trial and appellate courts and administrative tribunals providing an insider s understanding of the judicial system LeGaL s 2018 Hank Hank Judicial Fellows were Audrey J Juarez CUNY 2020 and Victor Tarantino Hofstra 2020
ANNUAL LGBTQ LEGAL CAREER FAIR LeGaL s LGBTQ Career Fair is a one with of a kind annual event targeted from many of the area s major specifically to local LGBTQ law legal employers and learn about students and provides a great opportunities in preparation for opportunity to meet informally the fall recruiting season lawyers and recruiters MENTORPALOOZA PROGRAM LeGaL and New York City Bar LGBT the LGBTQ legal community while Rights Committee seek to foster enhancing the skills and career the professional development of prospects of participants Area law LGBTQ law students and assist students who are members of LeGaL them in navigating the unique are eligible to register as mentees issues they might encounter during The LeGaL Mentoring Program will law school and the beginning of provide a mentor for support and their legal careers The Mentoring to assist in achieving academic Program aims to reinforce a sense professional and personal goals of community among members of As a mentor I use my professional Having a mentor through LeGaL was one experience and network to help rising of the most beneficial choices I could have law students and lawyers reach their made I was introduced to new contacts potential Mentorship is critical to and invited into professional circles much ensuring a diverse bar and bench earlier than other law school colleagues Ashlee Crawford Mentor Principal And more than gaining a professional Appellate Court Attorney Appellate mentor I gained a friend Division First Department Jordon Parker Mentee Cardozo 2017 CAREER FAIR PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS Arnold Porter Kaye Scholer LLP Bronx County District Attorney s Office Bronx Defenders Bryan Cave LLP Cadwalader Wickersham Taft LLP Cahill Gordon Reindel LLP Clifford Chance US LLP Cravath Swaine Moore LLP Davis Polk Wardwell LLP Debevoise Plimpton LLP Epstein Becker Green P C Fried Frank Harris Shriver Jacobson LLP Gibson Dunn Crutcher LLP Hogan Lovells US LLP Jones Day K L Gates LLP Kelley Drye Warren LLP Kings County District Attorney s Office Kirkland Ellis LLP Latham Watkins LLP Law Offices of Thomas Sciacca PLLC Legal Services NYC National LGBT Bar Association New York City Law Department New York County District Attorney s Office New York State Attorney General s Office Nixon Peabody LLP O Melveny Myers LLP Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton Garrison LLP Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP Proskauer Rose LLP Richmond County District Attorney s Office Ropes Gray LLP Schulte Roth Zabel LLP Shearman Sterling LLP Sidley Austin LLP Simpson Thacher Bartlett LLP Skadden Arps Slate Meagher Flom LLP Sullivan Cromwell LLP Weil Gotshal Manges LLP White Case LLP Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP 2018 Annual Report 15
MEMBER BENEFITS OPPORTUNITIES By joining LeGaL you become part of our mission and our vision to serve the LGBTQ community Check out our benefits join us Job Board CLE Library Access and post to our job board View and download CLE Materials through a simple online platform from current and past programs Law Notes Promotion Check out our monthly publication Feature your work or your firm on on LGBTQ legal and political news our website and aff iliate platforms Client Referrals Resources Be a member of our Lawyer Referral Access our aff iliate sites for legal Network or Pro Bono Panel resources and other opportunities Blog Posts Volunteering Write articles for our blog to share Become a volunteer attorney at with our member network one of our free legal clinics Mentoring Priority Mentor a law student through our Get priority access to special annual Mentoring Program events and other offers Discounts Leadership Receive a variety of discounts Boost your firm s profile as an from our aff iliate partners LGBTQ leader by joining our visit lgbtbarny org For 41 years LeGaL has served the LGBTQ community and supported LGBTQ people in the legal profession Become part of our future If you are already a part of the LeGaL family we thank you for your commitment to advancing equality and justice in and through the legal profession 16 2018 Annual Report Leadership Council
2018 FINANCIAL STATEMENT Support and revenue 1 Association Dues 2 Foundation Support 3 Grants 4 Donated Professional Services 2019 STAFF AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS 43 000 425 876 30 000 162 000 Total income 661 460 Expenses STAFF Eric Lesh Executive Director Brett Figlewski Legal Director Leah Harper Senior Manager of Design and Communications board of directors 1 Legal Programs and Services 434 239 2 Management and General 3 Fundraising 4 Donated Professional Services 60 940 7 455 162 000 Total expenses 664 633 net assets beginning of year 161 890 net assets end of year 158 717 Kristen Prata Browde President AssociaTION Janice Grubin Vice President M Frank Francis Secretary and Second Vice President K Scott Kohanowski Treasurer William Crosby Ricardo Doriott Lindsay Goldbrum Concepcion Montoya Cameron Smith Richard E Weber Jr Cody Yorke Foundation Sarah Filcher Vice President We thank Gennaro Savastano for his extraordinary leadership and service as LeGaL s 2018 Board President We d also like to recognize three former board members Edward Augustine Caprice Bellefleur and Patrick MacMurray for their remarkable stewardship of and dedication to LeGaL and the LGBTQ community Anthony Lise Secretary K Scott Kohanowski Treasurer Craig Convissar Joseph Evall Brian Gatens Omar Gonzalez Pagan Robert Maldonado Thomas Maligno Andrew Merten Meredith R Miller Anthony Perrotto Matthew Putorti Karl Riehl
THE LGBT BAR ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION OF GREATER NEW YORK 601 West 26th Street Suite 325 20 New York NY 10001 212 353 9118 info le gal org