Gay Rights Leader, Lambda Legal, Expands Fight Against Discrimination in Eight States; Opens South Central Regional Office in Dallas

(DALLAS, Thursday, June 20, 2002) - Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund (Lambda Legal) opened a new South Central Regional Office today in Dallas, Texas. The new office, with four staff members, gives Lambda Legal increased capacity to fight for the rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered (LGBT) people and people living with HIV or AIDS in eight states - Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Lambda Legal has been active in the south central states for 30 years and, with a Dallas base, will expand local outreach, public education, and litigation activity throughout the region.

"Our new office means we are within a two-hour striking distance of any state in the region," stated Kevin M. Cathcart, executive director of Lambda Legal. "We'll be more accessible and pro-active, increasing our capacity to hit the ground running in our fight for full equality in rural and urban areas in these eight states."

Speakers at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the new office included Cathcart, John Loza, Dallas city council member and deputy mayor pro tem of Dallas, and Barbara Nunneley, attorney and co-chair of the local committee for Lambda Legal.

Lee Taft, a well-known Dallas attorney and civil rights leader, was named the new regional director. "There is much work ahead as we build on Lambda Legal's civil rights efforts in the region," Taft stated. "I'm proud that Lambda is strong enough to expand and work closely with advocates in these eight states, since the capacity to act quickly at the local level is critical to our national campaign for equality." Taft has extensive experience as a litigator in private practice and has served on the board of Lambda Legal and as chair of the AIDS Interfaith Network and the Texas Human Rights Foundation.

Lambda Legal's current work in the region includes challenging state laws, including the Texas "Homosexual Conduct" law and a similar anti-gay law in Arkansas. On June 27, Lambda will be arguing before the Arkansas Supreme court, defending its lower court victory that overturned the Arkansas sodomy law - the first time that a court in that state found a right to privacy under the Arkansas state constitution. In Texas, Lambda also offered legal advice to assist local efforts to pass a Dallas ordinance banning anti-gay discrimination.

Lambda Legal recently participated in a Nebraska Supreme Court case on behalf of two mothers who were denied their petition to give their son two legal parents. As co-counsel in Romer v. Evans, Lambda Legal helped defeat Colorado's anti-gay Amendment 2 at the U.S. Supreme Court. Lambda also took successful action against an Arkansas school district for refusing to protect a gay high school student from violent abuse from other students. And on behalf of the mother of Brandon Teena, whose murder was the subject of the film "Boys Don't Cry," Lambda set a precedent in Nebraska that strengthens law enforcement's duty to protect victims of bias crimes.

Leaders of the LGBT community throughout the region expressed support for Lambda Legal's South Central Regional office:

"I am very excited about Lambda Legal opening their regional office in Dallas," said Steve Atkinson, co-chair of the Lesbian and Gay Rights Lobby and past president of the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance. "In the coming years, our community stands to make great gains through the court system and Dallas, with our strong and thriving gay and lesbian community, is a perfect home for Lambda."

"The LGBT movement in the United States has been able to make strides because of the work done by the Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund," stated Candy Marcum, Dallas activist and former national board chair, Human Rights Campaign. "It is safer to live your life openly as a LGBT person when you know your rights are protected by law. In order for these laws to be changed, Lambda must do it's work on local and state levels. Dallas is very luck to have a Lambda regional office right here in our own back yard. This will make Lambda's ability to represent the LGBT community here more efficient and effective."

Houston attorney, Mitchell Katine, cooperating counsel in the Texas "Homosexual Conduct" case said: "Lambda has been instrumental in the Texas Homosexual conduct case. We could not be proceeding without their expertise, knowledge and commitment to the lives of LGBT citizens. Having a regional office located in Texas will only make Lambda more accessible to work on Texas issues and Texas discrimination. We are lucky to have them here."

"Lambda Legal's regional office is really important for New Mexico because it means that we'll have folks close, who are experts on national LGBT law and are there to respond to our state's specific needs, laws and cultural/social differences," stated Martha Trolin, one of the founders of the Coalition for Equality in New Mexico, a federation of 58 LGBT and allied organizations. "As we pass civil rights legislation, we'll not only have the legal teeth we need but the solid help to enforce those laws. Lee Taft, the regional director for the new office has already provided us with invaluable advice and assistance. The coalition is thrilled by this productive partnership with Lambda Legal."

Gloria Nieto executive director, People of Color with AIDS in New Mexico said: "We face a host of problems in New Mexico: hate crimes, lack of employment protection and unsafe schools. The opening of a south central Lambda Legal office offers us much needed support. The LGBT community in New Mexico is thrilled to have the access and support of this incredible resource. All of us are excited about our work with Lee Taft and the avenues we will open together."

In Nebraska, Herbert J. Friedman, of Friedman Law Offices in Lincoln, Nebraska and co-counsel in the Joann Brandon v. County of Richardson case stated: "There's a lot of work to do if we're going to win full equality for all. We welcome the added resources that Lambda Legal's new office will bring to the civil rights battles ahead of us."

The new South Central Regional Office, located in the heart of the LGBT community in Dallas at 3500 Oak Lawn Avenue, will house a regional director, a staff attorney, an office manager, and an administrative assistant. A Legal Fellow position will be filled by Cece Cox, law student and former president of the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance.

Contact: In Dallas: Lee Taft: 214-219-8585
In New York: Geoffrey Knox: 212-229-0540; 917-414-1739