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Spirit of Justice to Honor John Ward

October 07, 2008

GLAD founder John Ward made history in 1978. He was the first openly gay male lawyer to practice in Boston. He fought against anti-gay measures in the city. And he started an organization that would win vital legal and civil rights for LGBT and HIV+ people throughout New England and the country. “There was more than a willingness, there was a real eagerness to change things,” says John. “So we started GLAD.”

On November 7, GLAD will honor John’s vision and courage with its Spirit of Justice Award.

In his first pro bono case, John challenged a sting operation at the Boston Public Library. In 1980 he championed a Rhode Island high school senior’s right to take his boyfriend to the prom. And in 1995 he made history again, as the first known gay lawyer arguing before the United States Supreme Court.

“John’s leadership put GLAD ahead of the curve,” says Executive Director Lee Swislow. “The advances GLAD has made over the last three decades for LGBT and HIV+ positive people would not have been possible without John’s visionary thinking as our founder.” Such advances include the historic Goodridge decision, which, five years ago this November, made Massachusetts the first state to grant full marriage equality to gay and lesbian couples.

In addition to honoring our founder and commemorating this landmark anniversary, this year’s Spirit of Justice Award Dinner will also celebrate the contributions of early GLAD volunteers, board, and staff members. Among those who played a vital role in GLAD’s development - and have gone on to become leaders, activists, and artists on the national stage – are GLAD’s first board chair Richard Burns (New York’s Gay and Lesbian Community Center), former Executive Director Kevin Cathcart (Lambda Legal), and early board members and volunteers Cindy Rizzo (The Arcus Foundation), Roberta Stone (Boston-area Realtor), Amy Hoffman (author/activist), and Urvashi Vaid (National Gay and Lesbian Task Force/Arcus Foundation).

From John Ward’s vision and the work of a handful of committed volunteers, GLAD has grown to become a legal powerhouse on the frontlines of today’s LGBT civil rights movement, fighting cases that change lives and create a more just, fair and equal world. Join us at this year’s Spirit of Justice Award Dinner as we honor this past and celebrate our future.

For more information on John Ward, read our press release.

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