The BBA established the Beacon Award for Diversity & Inclusion in 2010 to recognize exceptional leadership on diversity strategies that will have a lasting impact on the Greater Boston legal profession.
The Boston Bar Association’s third annual Beacon Award for Diversity & Inclusion took place on November 13 at 6pm at the Liberty Hotel in Boston.
The Boston Bar Association honored GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders) and the Attorney General's Office of Massachusetts for their work as lawyers in advancing same sex marriage and for effectively expanding the meaning of Diversity and Inclusion through their effort to challenge the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a statute that discriminates against legally married same-sex couples.
"GLAD in its own right exemplifies the values of the Beacon Award in constantly advancing the frontier in diversity and inclusion in our profession and society at large," said Colin Owyang, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, National Grid USA, and chair of the selection committee that vetted the numerous nominees for this award. "Even more impressive than its daily heroic work was its success in enlisting the support of the Office of Attorney General of Massachusetts and others, both directly and indirectly affected by DOMA, as it continued our profession's proud tradition of public service. Importantly, this coalition-building effort serves as a model for effective private-public partnerships that are necessary for all manner of important policy innovation, especially in the never ending advancement of diversity and inclusion." To read the full press release, click here.