Lambda Legal Celebrates Annual Atlanta Reception

(Atlanta, September 19, 2016) —Yesterday, Lambda Legal hosted its annual Atlanta reception at the Wimbish House where new CEO Rachel B. Tiven was the featured speaker. At the event, Lambda Legal announced that the estate of Atlanta philanthropist Loyd Clifton Lietch had bequeathed $250,000 to the organization.

"It's an exciting time to be doing work in the South at Lambda Legal and this year’s reception was filled with people eager to support those efforts,” said Lambda Legal Southern Regional Director Simone Bell.  “From our case in North Carolina fighting the anti-LGBT law that prevents transgender students, employees, and visitors from using the appropriate restrooms to the groundbreaking employment case on behalf of a Savannah lesbian Jameka Evans, who was fired because she didn’t look how her boss thought a woman should look, Lambda Legal is in the South challenging laws and public policies that discriminate across lines of sexual orientation, gender identity, HIV status, income and race and to achieve full equality for all.”

Lambda Legal’s new CEO Rachel B. Tiven was the featured speaker at the reception this year in Atlanta. Her remarks mapped Lambda Legal’s work ahead in the region. During the reception, Tiven announced a bequest from the estate of Atlanta philanthropist Loyd Clifton Lietch for $250,000. Lambda Legal will use the generous gift to strengthen and expand its legal and educational work in the South, winning more battles for the LGBT community and people with HIV, and moving our community closer to equality.

"Lambda Legal is so grateful to Cliff Lietch and his estate. We are honored by the great respect he had for our work, reflected in this substantial bequest.  His gift goes beyond dollars — it is a gift of faith in our future work for equality and we intend to live up to his faith in us," said Rachel B. Tiven, Lambda Legal CEO. “This donation will ensure that the dedicated staff at Lambda Legal has the resources to continue our work in the South—where Cliff was born and raised—with empathy, respect and outstanding legal strategy.”

“Cliff Lietch was born and raised in Georgia, and he was a true Southern gentleman—he had a giving heart that was larger than life. Cliff was the only child of two wonderful parents who loved him and taught him to love. He shared this love with his partner of over fifty years and everyone he met who needed his help,” said John Seals, co-executor of the estate. “Always willing to help anyone in need, Cliff was especially focused on the needs of the LGBT community. It was clearly his wish to give generously to such a wonderful organization like Lambda Legal.”