GLAD to Honor Founder John Ward at Spirit of Justice Award Dinner
Original “Gay Activist Lawyer” Changed History and Lives
John Ward is a soft-spoken man who makes history, loudly. In 1978, as the first openly gay male lawyer to practice in Boston, he fought against anti-gay measures in the city. As he did so, he founded an organization- Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders – that for three decades has won vital legal protections for LGBT and HIV-positive people throughout New England and across the country.
On November 7, GLAD will honor John’s vision and courage with its Spirit of Justice Award.
“It’s hard for many people to imagine what it was like to be gay, openly or not, in 1978,” said GLAD Executive Director Lee Swislow. “If it weren’t for John’s imagination, determination, and just plain guts, our community wouldn’t have the rights we have today.”
“At first I couldn’t see how it could be done – how could you be a gay activist lawyer?” said Ward. “How could you do it?” In his first pro bono case, John challenged a sting operation at the Boston Public Library. He provided legal representation, but also helped mobilize the gay community to organize and demonstrate.
“There was an obvious energy – and more than a willingness, an eagerness, to change things. I put an ad in Gay Community News, and suddenly I was a gay activist lawyer.” As a result, GLAD was born.
Ward made more history when 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 to argue before the United States Supreme Court. He graduated from Fordham University, magna cum laude and from Boston University Law School. He clerked for Judge Raymond J. Pettine of the United States District Court, District of Rhode Island, and now is a sole practitioner specializing in criminal appeals.
To mark GLAD’s beginnings on the occasion of its 30th anniversary, the Spirit of Justice dinner will also celebrate the contributions of early GLAD volunteers, board, and staff members, who went on to leadership positions both nationally and locally: former Executive Director Kevin Cathcart, now ED of Lambda Legal; original Board Chair Richard Burns, now ED of New York’s Gay and Lesbian Community Center; and early board members and volunteers Urvashi Vaid (later ED of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, now ED of the Arcus Foundation), Cindy Rizzo of the Arcus Foundation, author and activist Amy Hoffman, and Boston-area Realtor Roberta Stone.
At Spirit of Justice, GLAD’s largest event of the year, the organization aims to raise $500,000. Donor Henry van Ameringen has generously donated a challenge match of $50,000 for the evening.
The presenting sponsor for Spirit of Justice is the Macy’s Foundation. Premier Sponsors are Bank of America, Bingham McCutchen, Holland + Knight, Reproductive Science Center, and WilmerHale. Co-Chairs of the Spirit of Justice dinner committee are Dianne Phillips and Andre Campagna.
EVENT DETAILS
Spirit of Justice Award dinner
Friday, November 7, 2008
Reception at 6:30 pm; dinner at 7:30 pm.
The Westin Boston Waterfront
425 Summer Street, Boston
Available online at www.glad.org/events
Or by calling 617-426-1350
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Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders is New England's leading legal organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status, and gender identity and expression.