What does the LGBT Bar do?

The LGBT Bar provides much needed support to its members in a variety of ways. For example, it assists prospective LGBTQ+ judicial candidates to become judges, ensures law schools employ best practices to make LGBTQ+ students feel safe on campus, and hosts the annual Lavender Law Conference, the largest LGBTQ+ legal conference in the country.   

The LGBT Bar also advocates for issues important to the LGBTQ+ community. Right now, the Association is working to pass the Juror Non-Discrimination Act of 2021 that would prevent discrimination in jury selection based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The LGBT Bar is also leading the effort to ban LGBTQ+ “panic” defenses which is a legal strategy that asks a jury to find that a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity/expression is to blame for a defendant’s violent reaction.   

The LGBT Bar does not give legal advice or recommend attorneys to individuals but refers them to Lambda Legal.  Lambda Legal is a national organization whose primary mission is “the full recognition of civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and everyone living with HIV.”  According to the organization, Lambda Legal only accepts “impact cases” meaning those cases the organization believes will have the greatest impact “in protecting and advancing the rights of LGBT people and those with HIV.”