Lambda Legal Turns 40!

Reaching 40 is quite a milestone. At Lambda Legal, we’re proud of our history, and we’re working every day to move history forward.

When Bill Thom started Lambda Legal in his living room, he had to fight for our very existence: Our application to be a nonprofit was denied because our mission was deemed "neither benevolent nor charitable." Thom appealed to New York’s highest court, which ruled in our favor.

I was a college student at the time. To me, the gay movement barely existed outside the pages of the Village Voice. I couldn’t imagine all the progress we would achieve—and how Lambda Legal would lead the way.

But LGBT people and people with HIV still face discrimination, and there’s still more progress to be made. In our 40th year, we’re litigating more than 70 cases, responding to 500 Legal Help Desk calls a month, and helping people learn how protect their rights. We’re also looking forward to the 10th anniversary of the Lawrence v. Texas decision—the most important legal victory for LGBT equality at the U.S. Supreme Court to date.

Whether you joined us 40 years ago or just last month, thank you for your leadership! With your help, we’ll continue making the case for equality—and we won’t give up until equality is achieved for all.