News from New York State Bar Association

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New Committee Created on LGBT People and the Law to Promote Greater Equality

ALBANY, NY (05/22/2008; 0901)(readMedia)-- New York State Bar Association President Kathryn Grant Madigan (Levene Gouldin & Thompson LLP) today announced that the Association has formed a new committee on LGBT People and the Law that will promote equality in the legal profession for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gendered attorneys and litigants. Chaired by Michele Kahn (Kahn & Goldberg LLP) of New York City, the committee will hold its first meeting in early June.

“Promoting diversity within the profession is fundamental to who we are as an Association. Our formal diversity policy, adopted in 2003, defines diversity inclusively to encompass sexual orientation,” Madigan said. “This new committee will enable us to more effectively further our diversity goals by examining the wide array of issues that confront the LGBT community every day. Whether advocating for equal rights for same sex couples here in New York, promoting greater opportunities for gay and lesbian attorneys in the profession, educating the public on the importance of workplace equality and inclusion in all aspects of civil life, this new committee’s charge is necessarily expansive.”

The committee will work to promote equality in the law for LGBT people; seek to eliminate discrimination against LGBT attorneys and litigants; promote equality of opportunity for, and increase the visibility of, contributions made by LGBT attorneys; and promote diversity on the bench by inclusion of all minorities, including LGBT people.

The 74,000-member New York State Bar Association is the official statewide organization of lawyers in New York and the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. Founded in 1876, NYSBA programs and activities have continuously served the public and improved the justice system for more than 130 years.

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