Lambda Legal Launches 'Life Without Fair Courts' Cartoon Series and Contest

(New York, January 16, 2007) — Today, Lambda Legal, in conjunction with Prism Comics and media sponsor, The Advocate, launches its “Life Without Fair Courts” editorial cartoon series and “Life Without Fair Courts Contest,” seeking to educate the public in a new way about the need for fair courts. “We’re thrilled to be able to have artist Mikhaela Reid on board to illustrate the need for judicial fairness in such a fresh way,” said Hector Vargas, Deputy Director of Education and Public Affairs at Lambda Legal. “We look forward to seeing other artists display how courts affect their lives through the ‘Life Without Fair Courts Contest’“

As part of its commitment to educating the public about the need for fair courts, Lambda Legal has commissioned graphic artist Mikhaela Reid to do a series of graphic art called “Lambda Legal’s Life Without Fair Courts.” The series is an alternate reality cartoon that depicts what life would be like if courts had not upheld the Constitution and individual rights—but instead decided in favor of discrimination in past landmark court cases. Paired with the art series, Lambda Legal has teamed up with Prism Comics (an organization for the LGBT graphic artist community), and media sponsor, The Advocate, to launch a nationwide contest to find the best representation of what the artists’ own lives would look like without fair courts. First prize in the contest is exposure in The Advocate and on Advocate.com. Second and third prize include donated shopping sprees from Diamond Comics Distributors. Contest judges include Joan Hilty, Editor at DC Comics; Phil Jimenez, Freelance Illustrator and Comic Book Artist; Mikhaela Reid, creator of the original series, Life Without Fair Courts; and George Stoll, Art Director for The Advocate.

Submissions to the contest will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. on March 15, 2007. All entries should be submitted to either Lambda Legal, c/o Fair Courts Contest, 120 Wall Street, Suite 1500, New York, NY 10005 or faircourtscontest@lambdalegal.org. For a complete list of contest rules visit www.lambdalegal.org/CourtingJustice.

As part of the launch, The Advocate’s January 30, 2007 issue, on stands today, includes a feature article with art by Mikhaela Reid and information about Lambda Legal’s Courting Justice campaign to educate the public about the need for fair courts. The art can also be found at www.lambdalegal.org/CourtingJustice and Advocate.com.

Courting Justice is Lambda Legal’s education campaign designed to add the organization’s unique perspective to the fight to defend fair and impartial courts. The campaign seeks to ensure that LGBT and HIV-affected people know what’s at stake and how to get involved in efforts to defend fair and impartial courts at the federal and state levels. As part of the Courting Justice campaign, Lambda Legal launched a special website to provide critical information about the role of the courts in protecting civil rights and current threats to that role. More information about Courting Justice can be found on its website at: www.lambdalegal.org/CourtingJustice.

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For more information, contact Mark Roy at 212-809-8585 ext. 267

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.