News
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July 7, 2010
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We want to send a well deserved Congratulations to Lambda Legal on their fabulous work in the case of Glenn v. Brumby! The United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia granted their motion for summary judgment! Vandy Beth Glenn's attorneys from Lambda Legal, Cole Thaler and Greg Nevins, have previously been recognized by the Stonewall Bar Association for their Service to the Stonewall Community.
Ms. Glenn's case was based on her unlawful termination from employment as an editor by the Georgia General Assembly's Office of General Counsel due to sex discrimination. Language from the decision by United States District Judge Richard W. Story is copied below. (To read the entire decision click here or on the case name above).
"As noted, Plaintiff has properly stated a violation of the Equal Protection
Clause based upon sex stereotyping. Such a claim is subject to intermediate scrutiny review. The record demonstrates that Plaintiff’s desire to come to work dressed as a woman did not comport with how Defendant Brumby believed a biological male should act and that served as a basis for her termination. The record also indicated that Brumby was concerned about negative reactions from others, including state legislators, if he allowed Plaintiff to do so. Neither is an “exceedingly persuasive justification,” and neither explanation is sufficient to survive intermediate scrutiny review. See Hogan, 458 U.S. at 724. Therefore, Plaintiff is entitled to summary judgment for her claim of discrimination based on sex."
(For more information about the case or Lambda Legal just click on their logo above.)
June 10, 2010
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We are very pleased to announce that the Legal Department of AT&T will be joining us as a Platinum Sponsor for 2010 - 2011!
April 1, 2010
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We are proud to announce that the Stonewall Bar Association has been recognized as a Constant Contact "All Star" for 2009. Our organization was selected for meeting their best practice standards for e-mail marketing. We do our very best to limit the number of e-mails we send to members of our listserve and do not share our e-mail list with anyone!
December 22, 2009
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We are proud to report raising more than $800 in donations from our Winter Party and Toyraiser! This money and all the gifts under the tree were donated to CHRIS Kids. Thank you for your generosity and for a fabulous year!
December 22, 2009
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Stonewall Bar Association
REPORT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE
December 22, 2009
Pursuant to the Bylaws of the Association, a Nominating Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors identified the following candidates on November 23, 2009, to fill open positions on the Board of Directors:
- (a) Rick Baker (Voting Member position);
- (b) Jeff Cleghorn (Voting Member position);
- (c) Joan Crumpler (Voting Member position);
- (d) Adam Ford (Voting Member position);
- (e) Rebecca Glatzer (Voting Member position);
- (f) Robert Lewis (Voting Member position);
- (g) Sumner Riddick (Voting Member position);
- (h) Denise VanLanduyt (Voting Member position);
- (i)Gary Zweifel (Voting Member position);
- (j) Melanie Bruchet (Student Member position, Mercer University);
- (k) Ashland Johnson (Student Member position, University of Georgia);
- (l) Melissa Koefod (Student Member position, Georgia State University);
- (m) Ian Perez (Student Member position, John Marshall School of Law);
- (n) Diane Wizig (Student Member position, Emory University).
Subsequently, the Committee asked the general membership for any additional nominations. Once the open nominations period closed on December 7, 2009, the Committee had received only one subsequent nomination - that of Michael R. Peacock.
As the Committee received no other names, the Nominating Committee hereby adds Michael R. Peacock to the slate of candidates nominated to fill open positions on the Board of Directors. Mr. Peacock shall be known as nominee “o” and is nominated for a two-year Voting Member position. With the nominations now closed, the Committee now deems candidates (a) through (o) as elected.
November 23, 2009
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Stonewall Bar Association
REPORT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE
November 23, 2009
Pursuant to the Bylaws of the Association, a Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors has identified the following candidates to fill open positions on the Board of Directors:
- Rick Baker (Voting Member position);
- Jeff Cleghorn (Voting Member position);
- Joan Crumpler (Voting Member position);
- Adam Ford (Voting Member position);
- Rebecca Glatzer (Voting Member position);
- Robert Lewis (Voting Member position);
- Michael R. Peacock (Voting Member position);
- Sumner Riddick (Voting Member position);
- Denise VanLanduyt (Voting Member position);
- Gary Zweifel (Voting Member position);
- Melanie Bruchet (Student Member position, Mercer University);
- Ashland Johnson (Student Member position, University of Georgia);
- Melissa Koefod (Student Member position, Georgia State University);
- Ian Perez (Student Member position, John Marshall School of Law);
- Diane Wizig (Student Member position, Emory University);
Additional nominations may be delivered to the Association no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 7, 2009. Such additional nominations should be directed to:
Brian Basinger
King & Spalding
1180 Peachtree St. N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
If no additional nominations are received by that date and time, the candidates proposed by the Nominating Committee shall be deemed elected. If additional nominations are received, an election will be conducted by ballots distributed to the membership.
November 20, 2009
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Stonewall Bar Association
NOTICE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
WHEREAS, the Corporation’s Bylaws provide a process for their amendment; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) has considered a proposed amendment to the Bylaws; and
WHEREAS, the aforesaid proposed amendment is the one shown on the “redlined” document attached as Exhibit A hereto; and
WHEREAS, upon due deliberation, the aforesaid proposed amendment appears desirable to a two-thirds majority of the Board, subject to the provision of proper notice to the general membership;
WHEREAS, Article 18 of the Bylaws requires that the membership be provided notice of proposed amendments to the Bylaws,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT:
- Notice of the aforesaid proposed amendments to the Bylaws be transmitted to the membership in accordance with Article 18 of the Bylaws;
- The aforesaid proposed amendments to the Bylaws are CONDITIONALLY ADOPTED, subject to the consideration of any objections that may be received from the general membership on or prior to the fifteenth (15th) date following the provision of notice to the general membership;
- In the absence of any objection from the general membership, aforesaid proposed amendments to the Bylaws shall be deemed as FINALLY ADOPTED on the fifteenth (15th) day following the provision of notice to the general membership;
- If any objection is timely received from the general membership concerning the adoption of the aforesaid proposed amendments to the Bylaws, the adoption of the aforesaid proposed amendments to the Bylaws shall be SUSPENDED pending further deliberation of and action by the Board, whether taken at its next regular meeting or in an Action Without a Meeting taken pursuant to Article 3, Section 3.12 of the Bylaws;
- The Secretary of the Corporation is directed to note the adoption of this Resolution by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Directors, whose consents have been received pursuant to Article 18 of the Bylaws and to maintain a record of the Directors providing such electronic consents.
This 20th day of November, 2009
Exhibit A to Notice of November 20, 2009
Explanation:
In a previous update to the Bylaws of Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia, Inc., the Board removed the maximum cap on the number of members who could serve at one time. However, a second reference to the cap was left behind in Article 5, Section 5.1. The proposed amendment (below) would remove this cap in order to provide consistency throughout the Bylaws.
Proposed Amendment:
The first sentence of Article 5, Section 5.1 ("Directors") of the Bylaws of Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia, Inc., is amended, as follows:
"There shall be a Board of Directors consisting of not less than 8 or more than 14 members."
October 22, 2009
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Stonewall Bar Association's 15th Annual
Awards Dinner
October 20, 2009
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With just two more days until our 15th Annual Awards Dinner we are pleased to announce that the firms of Bruce Hagen, P.C. and Esquire Solutions will be joining us as Silver Sponsors!
Thanks to all our fabulous sponsors for making this event possible!
October 15, 2009
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We are pleased to announce that DLA Piper LLP will be renewing as a Platinum Sponsor for 2009 - 2010! We are also pleased to announce that the law firm of Adorno & Yoss will be joining us as a Gold Sponsor!
October 5, 2009
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We are pleased to announce that the following firms have agreed to be sponsors for 2009-2010! Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP, and the National LGBT Bar Association are renewing as Gold Sponsors! The firm of Stephen R. Scarborough and the Law Office of Nick Lotito, Seth Kirschenbaum & Paul Bartels, and the Zweifel Law Firm are renewing as Silver Sponsors!
Seth Kirschenbaum & Paul Bartels
September 22, 2009
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We are pleased to announce that in addition to the firms we already announced, the following firms have agreed to be sponsors for 2009-2010! LexisNexis, Dennis Dean Catering, and Frabel Glass Studio will be renewing as Platinum Sponsors! We are also pleased to announce that the law firm of Smith, Gambrell & Russell LLP is renewing as a Gold Sponsor!
August 31, 2009
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We are pleased to announce that in addition to the firms we listed in July, the following firms have agreed to be sponsors for 2009-2010! The law firms of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, and Troutman Sanders, LLP will be renewing as Platinum Sponsors! We are also pleased to have Baker Donelson, PC, and Ballard Sparh, LLP as renewing Gold Sponsors and the Law Office of Akin & Tate as a renewing Silver Sponsor!
We look forward to more announcements in the weeks to come!
We regret that we incorrectly listed one of our sponsors in our earlier post. The law firm of Kitchens New, LLC is now known as Kitchens New Cleghorn, LLC!
July 27, 2009
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With our 15th Annual Awards Dinner less than 90 days away (but who is counting?) we are pleased to announce that the law firms of Alston & Bird LLP, Aussenberg Waggoner LLP, Kilpatrick Stockton LLP, King & Spalding LLP, and Kitchens New LLC will be renewing as Platinum Sponsors for 2009 - 2010! We are also pleased to have Koehler & Riddick LLC, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, and Morris Manning & Martin LLP as renewing Gold Sponsors and the Law Office of Marcia G. Shein as a renewing Silver Sponsor!
June 10, 2009
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We are very pleased to announce that Cypress Communications will be joining us as a Platinum Sponsor for 2009 - 2010!
January 23, 2009
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The Last Thing Hanging in the Closet:
Domestic Violence in LGBT Relationships
(Legal Issues and Remedies)
On Tuesday, February 3, 2009 the American Bar Association will hold a Teleconference and Live Audio Webcast at 1:00 pm
(Click Here for more information and registration)
Recent studies have shown that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals or couples experience domestic violence at the same rate as heterosexual individuals or couples. However, LGBT individuals face different challenges in the justice system, with local police, and other domestic violence agencies which are not properly trained and sometimes not properly equipped to handle the issues facing LGBT victims of domestic violence.
This program will address domestic violence in lesbian, gay and transgender relationships, specifically focusing on legal issues and remedies. In addition, the presentation will include the ABA's recent efforts around creating national training and education for attorneys representing victims.
Moderator: Michael Bergmann, Pro Bono Initiative Director, Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI), Chicago, IL
Morgan Lynn, LGBTQ Advocate, Women Empowered Against Violence (WEAVE), Washington, DC
Terra Slavin, Lead Staff Attorney, Domestic Violence Legal Advocacy
Project at the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center, Los Angeles, CA
Wayne Thomas, Attorney,GLBT Domestic Violence Program, Boston, MA
January 5, 2009
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Stonewall Bar Association
REPORT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE
January 5, 2009
Pursuant to the Bylaws of the Association, a Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors has identified the following candidates to fill open positions on the Board of Directors:
- Brian Basinger (Voting Member position);
- Desmond Dorsey (Voting Member position);
- Scott Griffin (Voting Member position);
- Christa Gray (Voting Member position);
- Adam Ford (Student Member position, Georgia State University);
- Anne Marie Pippin (Student Member position, University of Georgia);
- Charles Crowe (Student Member position, Mercer University);
- Daniel Nugent (Student Member position, Emory University);
- Emily Harris (Student Member position, John Marshall School of Law).
Pursuant to Article 5.6 of the Bylaws of the Association, additional nominations may be delivered to the Secretary of the Association no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 19, 2009. Such additional nominations should be directed to:
Brian Basinger, Esq.
King & Spalding LLP
1180 Peachtree St NE # 1700
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
If no additional nominations are received by that date and time, the candidates proposed by the Nominating Committee shall be deemed elected. If additional nominations are received, an election will be conducted by ballots mailed to the membership.
December 19, 2008
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Thank you card from ChildKind:
Christmas presents from the Stonewall Bar Association Winter Party (our 2nd Annual Toyraiser) were shared with local children's charities.
November 17, 2008
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Stonewall Bar Association's 14th Annual
Awards Dinner
October 16, 2008
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With just one more week to go until our Annual Awards Dinner we are pleased to announce the rest of our Platinum Sponsors for 2008 - 2009! LexisNexis will be joining us again! We are also pleased to be joined by the law firms of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC and Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. as new Platinum Sponsors! We also pleased to announce our newest Platinum Sponsor, Ackerman Security Services! We are also very proud to announce our newest Gold Sponsor, the National Lesbian & Gay Law Association!
October 10, 2008
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We are pleased to announce that Ogletree Deakins will be renewing as a Platinum Sponsor for 2008 - 2009! We are also pleased to announce that Dennis Dean Catering, who did such a wonderful job with our Awards Dinner last year is going to be catering again this year! Frabel Studio who made the beautiful glass sculptures of the scales of justice for our award recipients last year will also be joining us!
October 2, 2008
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We are pleased to announce that the firm of Kitchens New, LLC will be a Gold Sponsor for 2008 - 2009! We are also pleased to announce that the law firm Warner, Mayoue, Bates & Nolen, P.C. will be a Silver Sponsor and our newest Bronze Sponsor will be Steven R. Scarborough, Attorney at Law!
September 24, 2008
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We are pleased to announce that the law firms of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP and Powell Goldstein LLP will be Platinum Sponsors for 2008 - 2009! We are also pleased to announce that the law firms of Troutman Sanders LLP and Morris Hardwick & Schneider, LLC will be joining us as a Gold Sponsors!
September 18, 2008
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We are pleased to announce that Morris, Manning & Martin LLP will be renewing as a Platinum Sponsor for 2008 - 2009! We are also please to announce that the law firms of McKenna, Long & Aldridge, LLP and Claiborne, Outman & Surmay, PC will be joining us as a Gold Sponsors and the court reporting firm of Brown & Gallo, LLC will be joining us as a Silver Sponsor!
September 8, 2008
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We are pleased to announce that DLA Piper LLP will be renewing as a Platinum Sponsor for 2008 - 2009! We are also please to announce that the law firm of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP will be joining us as a Gold Sponsor and the law firm of Akin & Tate will be joining us as a Silver Sponsor!
August 17, 2008
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We are pleased to announce that King & Spalding will be renewing as a Platinum Sponsor for 2008 - 2009! We are also pleased to annnounce that the law firm of Smith, Gambrell & Russell will be a Gold Sponsor for 2008 - 2009 along with our newest Gold Sponsor, Marcia G. Shein, P.C.!
August 12 , 2008
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We are pleased to announce that the Sutherland law firm will be renewing as a Platinum Sponsor for 2008 - 2009! We are also pleased to annnounce that the firm of Aussenberg Waggoner is our newest Platinum Sponsor!
August 6 , 2008
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We are pleased to announce that the law firms of Kilpatrick Stockton and Alston & Bird will be renewing as Platinum Sponsors for 2008 - 2009! We are also pleased to have Gary Zweifel as a renewing Silver Sponsor!
May 21, 2008
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We are pleased to announce that the law firm of
Koehler & Riddick, LLC will be a Platinum Sponsor
for 2008 - 2009!
November 30, 2007
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The Stonewall Bar Association's newly elected Board of Directors, including the candidates listed below, were announced at the Annual Membership Meeting held in conjunction with the Winter Party.
Stonewall Bar Association
REPORT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE
November 9, 2007
Pursuant to the Bylaws of the Association, a Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors has identified the following candidates to fill open positions on the Board of Directors:
- Jeff Cleghorn (Voting Member position);
- Lori Surmay (Voting Member position);
- Gary Zweifel (Voting Member position);
- Sumner E. Riddick (Voting Member position);
- Joan Crumpler (Voting Member position);
- Brian Basinger (Student Member position, Georgia State University);
- J. Michael Petty (Student Member position, University of Georgia);
- Charlie Crowe (Student Member position, Mercer University);
- Daniel Nugent (Student Member position, Emory University);
- Joe Perkins (Student Member position, John Marshall School of Law).
Pursuant to Article 5.6 of the Bylaws of the Association, additional nominations may be delivered to the Secretary of the Association no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 23, 2007. Such additional nominations should be directed to:
Alex Reed, Esq.
Alston & Bird LLP
1201 West Peachtree Street, NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30309-3424
If no additional nominations are received by that date and time, the candidates proposed by the Nominating Committee shall be deemed elected. If additional nominations are received, an election will be conducted by ballots mailed to the membership.
November 5, 2007
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Stonewall Bar Association's New President
Earns 2007 Indigent Defense Award
(Former President Jeff Swart with incoming President Christine Koehler
at the Stonewall Bar Annual Awards Dinner)
This past weekend the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
presented its 2007 Indigent Defense Award to Christine A. Koehler during
the GACDL Fall Seminar.
The award was presented to Christine for her zealous and passionate
advocacy for indigent clients; her devotion to mentoring new attorneys;
her service as counsel in the longest death penalty trial held in
Gwinnett County; and her diligent effort to prevent legislation that
would negatively impact death penalty defendants.
October 5, 2007
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Multi-Bar Leadership Council presents
Diversity Award to Seth D. Kirschenbaum
MBLC Co-Chairs-Elect Sam Griffin (Stonewall Bar Association) and Tara Adyanthaya (Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association) present Seth D. Kirschenbaum with an award named for him honoring his commitment to diversity. Pictured with Chair of MBLC Denise M. Warner (DeKalb Bar Association), W. Ray Persons (Atlanta Bar Association) and former Chair of MBLC Kathleen Womack (Stonewall Bar Association).
October 4, 2007
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Lori Surmay Recognized as an
Angel in Adoption
We already knew she was an angel, but...
On October 4, 2007, Atlanta attorney, Lori M. Surmay, a past President of the Stonewall Bar Association, became an Angel in Adoption, an honor awarded by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson nominated Lori for this award. At the 2007 Angels in Adoption gala in Washington, D.C., U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu presented Lori with her award. Annually, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute honors people “doing extraordinary things” to enrich the lives of foster children and orphans, and for adoption & foster care advocacy. Surmay practices exclusively in the law of adoption and reproductive medicine. Her law partners, Ruth Claiborne and Jim Outman, have each been recognized as Angels in Adoption previously.
September 6, 2007
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We are pleased to announce that DLA Piper, a global legal services organization, will be a Platinum Sponsor for 2007!
August 3, 2007
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IN MEMORIAM
On Friday, August 3, our family lost one of its luminaries, Kay Young, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Kay was truly one of the shining stars in our community, devoting her entire career to fighting for those who needed it most.
Kay began practicing law in Georgia in 1980, first working for the Emergency Land Fund, where she fought against land speculators who were unscrupulously buying property at depressed prices from unsuspecting rural landowners. She then worked at Georgia Legal Services from 1982 until 1997, when she entered private practice, concentrating on lobbying and adoption law. She was very focused on helping vulnerable children find good homes, where they could have fun and enjoy being children, rather than having to grow up too soon. She also worked as a counselor and board member at a Quaker camp for kids in Plymouth, Vermont.
In 1980 Kay was a founding member of Sisters, a black lesbian support group based in Atlanta. She also served as President of the ACLU of Georgia and the Women’s Policy Group. In addition to being a lobbyist herself, Kay taught lobbying skills to many diverse groups, including Georgia Equality, Gay Black Pride 2001, Cobb Citizens’ Coalition, the Women’s Policy Group, and the Atlanta Tradeswomen’s Network.
Beginning in 1987 Kay worked as a registered lobbyist at the Georgia General Assembly, representing numerous non-profits including Georgia Equality, Women’s Policy Group, Task Force for the Homeless and many others. She worked to help pass Georgia’s first hate crimes law, fought against the so-called Boy Scouts protection bills, worked to ensure fairness in placing troubled children in alternative schools, worked to create a standby guardianship for children of terminally ill parents, fought to protect the separation of church and state in public schools, and helped victims of domestic violence gain easier access to the courts.
Kay was a charter member of the Stonewall Bar Association, serving on the Board from 1997-2002. She chaired Stonewall’s Pride Committee in 1997 and was our Secretary from 1998-2002. In 2003, Stonewall Bar recognized her tireless efforts by giving her the Outstanding Service to the Stonewall Community Award. Recently the Board further recognized her many contributions by establishing the Kay Young Scholarship to enable law students to attend the annual Lavender Law conference, thus encouraging new lawyers to continue her tradition of advocacy and service to our community.
More than all these accomplishments, however, all of us will remember Kay as a shining light and inspiration to fight for justice and quality; few waged this fight with the style and grace Kay displayed every day. All who knew her will never forget how her megawatt smile and incredible sense of humor could light up a room as soon as she walked in. Linda Lowe, a longtime friend and fellow lobbyist, recalls that “Kay could always find something funny in any situation, and was particularly able to find the good in anyone she met, even when others could not see it.” This was no small feat, since she spent her time lobbying for progressive causes, having to deal with many challenging Georgia legislators!
Kay shared 25 wonderful years with her beloved partner, Melinda Agee. They were a constant in our community, at every Stonewall dinner and function, their love and devotion to each other always so obvious, so clear and beautiful, an inspiring example to all of us. Even over these last months, Kay showed the courage and unwavering zest for living that characterized her entire life, never losing her sense of humor, and continuing to grace us all with that wonderful smile. The thoughts of everyone in our community are with Melinda, and we will all cherish the time when Kay Young walked among us, knowing that her spirit will continue to be an inspiration to us all.
July 31, 2007
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Wait till you see this year's Awards! We are pleased to announce the addition of the famous Frabel Glass Art Studio as our newest Platinum Sponsor for 2007!
June 24, 2007
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To cap off a fabulous Pride Celebration, we are pleased to announce that the law firm of Kitchens New, LLC, will be a Platinum Sponsor for 2007!
April 3, 2007
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We are pleased to announce that the employment law firm of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. will be a Platinum Sponsor for 2007!
March 19, 2007
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We are pleased to announce that, in addition to our original Platinum Sponsors for 2006, that Lexis/Nexis will be a Platinum Sponsor for 2007!
February 21, 2007
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Our Board of Directors has approved a change in the organization's bylaws to allow for more flexibility in the composition and size of the Board. We have posted a copy of the resolution and a copy of the amended bylaws.
REPORT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE
November 30, 2006
Pursuant to the Bylaws of the Association, a Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors has identified the following candidates to fill open positions on the Board of Directors:
- Sam Griffin (Voting Member position);
- Alex Reed (Voting Member position);
- Susan Teaster (Voting Member position);
- Jaimie Wojdowski (Student Member position, Georgia State University);
- Preston Meche (Student Member position, University of Georgia);
- Rachel Williams (Student Member position, Mercer University);
- Daniel Nugent (Student Member position, Emory University);
- Joe Perkins (Student Member position, John Marshall School of Law).
Pursuant to Article 5.6 of the Bylaws of the Association, additional nominations may be delivered to the Secretary of the Association no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 11, 2006. Such additional nominations should be directed to:
Alex Reed, Esq.
Alston & Bird LLP
1201 West Peachtree Street, NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30309-3424
If no additional nominations are received by that date and time, the candidates proposed by the Nominating Committee shall be deemed elected. If additional nominations are received, an election will be conducted by ballots mailed to the membership.
Stonewall Bar Association joins Lambda Legal and Others in Urging State Department to Stop Discriminating Against People with HIV on World AIDS Day
Lambda Legal Urges State Department to Stop Discriminating Against People with HIV on World AIDS Day
'The State Department is basing its blanket ban against applicants with HIV on outdated medical information and stereotypes about people with HIV.'
(Washington D.C., November 30, 2006) --- In honor of World AIDS Day tomorrow, Lambda Legal has sent 17,000 petitions along with a letter signed by over 40 HIV/AIDS, sexual health and civil rights organizations to the State Department, urging it to end its discrimination against people with HIV.
Lambda Legal collaborated with HIV/AIDS, sexual health and civil rights organizations to send a letter to the State Department, urging it to revise its outdated and discriminatory policy that disqualifies perfectly qualified candidates solely on their HIV status. Lambda Legal also sent a petition with 17,000 signatures encouraging Condoleezza Rice to reconsider the State Department's blanket ban against hiring people with HIV.
Lambda Legal currently represents two men, Lorenzo Taylor and Kyle Smith, both of whom sought to become Foreign Service Officers and were denied because they have HIV. Taylor's lawsuit against Condoleezza Rice, in her official capacity as Secretary of State, charges that the State Department's policy violates the federal Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits the federal government from discriminating against people with disabilities. Smith has an administrative complaint pending against the State Department.
"The State Department is basing its blanket ban against applicants with HIV on outdated medical information and stereotypes about people with HIV," said Bebe Anderson, HIV Project Director at Lambda Legal. "Lorenzo Taylor is a clear example of a highly qualified, dedicated applicant who is being blocked from doing the work he trained so long and hard to do because he has HIV."
"We are proud to join with Lambda Legal and other organizations in sending this important message to the U.S. government that policies based on unreasonable ideology rather than sound, scientific evidence are not acceptable," said William Smith, Vice President for Public Policy at the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS). "By continuing to implement this backward and discriminatory policy, the State Department is sending a message to all employers that it is acceptable to further stigmatize people living with HIV."
"As HIV care providers, we use the power of medicine to heal, not to discriminate," said Dr. Jeffrey Schouten, Chair of the American Academy of HIV Medicine Board of Directors. "It concerns us that the United States State Department would use HIV status to exclude capable and talented individuals from a calling to Foreign Service. This policy perpetuates long held erroneous beliefs and longstanding ignorance about HIV that providers have been fighting against for more than 25 years --- condoning discrimination while doing nothing to help contain the spread of disease."
Other groups who signed on to the letter include: Advocates for Youth; AIDS Action Council; AIDS Foundation of Chicago; The AIDS Institute—National Office; AIDSLaw of Louisiana, Inc.; AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania; AIDS Legal Council of Chicago; AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP); AIDS Project Hartford, Inc.; AIDS Project Los Angeles; American Academy of HIV Medicine; American Civil Liberties Union; Asian Pacific American Legal Center; BIENESTAR; Bronx AIDS Services, Inc.; Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP); Connecticut AIDS Resource Coalition; Douglas County HIV Resource Center; Duke AIDS Legal Assistance Project; Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders; Gay Men's Health Crisis; Harm Reduction Coalition, Hepatitis, AIDS, Research Trust, HIV/AIDS Law Project; HIV & AIDS Legal Services Alliance, Inc. (HALSA); HIV Medicine Association; Human Rights Campaign; International Women's Health Coalition; L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center; Legal Action Center; Minnesota AIDS Project; Nashville CARES; National Association of People with AIDS; National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors; New York State Black Gay Network; Public Justice Center; Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS); Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia, Inc.; Sylvia Rivera Law Project; Treatment Action Group; TII CANN—Title II Community AIDS National Network; Washington Heights CORNER Project; and Whitman-Walker Clinic.
Announcement of proposed changes to Bylaws
The Board of Directors proposed revisions to the Bylaws at its November 14, 2006 monthly board meeting. To see the proposed changes, please review the Proposed Revisions to Stonewall Bylaws. Contact President Jeff Swart with any comments. SBA President.
MICHAEL BOWERS RECEIVED LEADERSHIP AWARD
On October 3, 2006, the Atlanta Bar Association gave a leadership award to Michael Bowers, Georgia’s former Attorney General- the same Bowers of the notorious Bowers v. Hardwick U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1986 which upheld Georgia’s sodomy law and which provided support for other states’ statutes as well. Bowers also withdrew an employment offer to attorney Robin Shahar (see Shahar v. Bowers) for having a commitment ceremony with her partner while he simultaneously engaged in a long-term extramarital affair himself. (Both sodomy and adultery were illegal in Georgia at the time).
Reaction from the Stonewall Community to the decision to recognize Bowers as a community leader ranged from disappointment to outrage. Stonewall Bar Association President Lori Surmay wrote a letter to the Atlanta Bar Association’s president, Richard Herzog, and a story and both letters appeared in the Fulton County Daily Report on September 14, 2006. A link to an article running in Atlanta’s primary gay & lesbian paper, Southern Voice: http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=9104.
Read the letters sent between the Stonewall Bar president and Atlanta Bar president:
Letter from Stonewall Bar Association
Response from Atlanta Bar Association