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Home > About Us | What do we do? What do we do?  Legal Sections MLGBA sponsors several sections, including:
Educational Events MLGBA presents educational seminars and workshops on various topics of interest to the LGBT legal community. In the past, these topics have included:
Coordinating With Others MLGBA works closely with Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), one of the premier gay and lesbian civil rights advocacy organizations in the United States working to protect members of the LGBT community against discrimination and to vigorously pursue our civil rights. MLGBA is a member of MassEquality.org, an unprecedented coalition of local and national groups dedicated to ensuring that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision on marriage equality is upheld, and that any anti-gay amendment or legislation is defeated. MLGBA also works closely with the Massachusetts Bar Association, Boston Bar Association and other minority bar associations and LGBT organizations because the interests of our communities often coincide with others who are fighting for equality and justice. Newsletter, Law Notes and Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly MLGBA sends its members a monthly newsletter advising them of current events and matters of interest. Members electing to subscribe to Lesbian/Gay Law Notes also receive superb summaries of recent legal decisions and developments from across the United States and internationally. In 1999, MLGBA began publishing law notes in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and now does so several times a year, providing much needed coverage to all lawyers in Massachusetts with news, decisions and important trends affecting our communities. MLGBA also produces "Legal Lines," a bi-monthly cable access call in show. Law Students In addition to the annual Western Mass. and Boston Law Student Receptions, MLGBA holds educational and career events at area law schools and also runs a mentor/mentee program for law students and newly admitted attorneys. Amicus Briefs MLGBA has filed and co-signed amicus briefs in various courts on issues such as opposition to a state-wide referendum on the Massachusetts gay civil rights law, full enforcement of fair housing laws, prevention of discrimination based on marital status, support of lesbian and gay second-parent adoption, and advocating sentence commutation for a lesbian imprisoned for defending against her batterer/partner.
MLGBA has co-signed amicus briefs filed with the US Supreme Court in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, Lawrence v. Texas and Rumsfeld v. FAIR, and also joined with the Boston Bar Association in an amicus brief detailing the legal rights and responsibilities of marriage in the Goodridge case. MLGBA joined amicus briefs to the SJC on the Mass. Senate's request for an advisory opinion on a proposed civil unions bill and the SJC's reconsideration of the Dalis and Lavelle employment discrimination cases. Most recently, MLGBA submitted a brief in Cote-Whitacre v. Dept. of Public Health, which challenges the so-called "1913 law." Advocacy MLGBA has lobbied and worked with state and local officials to support legislation on LGBT civil rights, hate crimes, sodomy laws repeal, AIDS issues, and domestic partnership, civil unions and same-sex marriage. MLGBA also worked as part of a coalition to defeat the anti-gay DOMA ballot initiative. MLGBA initiated a study on sexual orientation bias in the legal system, has worked with LGBT student organizations to ensure fair treatment of LGBT students at Massachusetts law schools, and has publicly and forcefully spoken out against homophobia and discrimination in the legal system, profession and community. Judicial/Appointments Committee MLGBA advocates for the appointment of qualified LGBT attorneys to the judiciary and other government positions. In part through these efforts, Dermot Meagher in 1989 and Linda Giles in 1991 -- were appointed to the Boston Municipal Court. Judge Giles has since been appointed to the Mass. Superior Court. In June 2000, MLGBA member Angela Ordoñez, was sworn in as an Associate Justice of the Nantucket Probate and Family Court. In October 2001, longtime MLGBA member David Mills was sworn in as an Associate Justice of the Mass. Appeals Court. David is the first openly gay appointee at the appellate level. Most recently, longtime member Stephen Abany was appointed to the Wrentham District Court. History and Organization MLGBA was founded in 1985 and subsequently incorporated as a 501(c)6 Massachusetts non-profit organization in 1988. It is affiliated with the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association (NLGLA). MLGBA has a seat in the Massachusetts Bar Association House of Delegates. MLGBA is governed by a 14-member Board of Directors elected by the general membership. |
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