The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this content. Laws and regulations vary by jurisdiction and change frequently; always consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific situation. The author and publisher assume no liability for any actions taken based on this information.
- The ABA Stonewall Award recognizes LGBTQ equality work in the legal profession
- The inaugural Stonewall Awards were presented at the 2013 ABA Midyear Meeting
- Matt Nosanchuk was among the inaugural honorees and he held a federal government role
- Other 2013 recipients were also recognized in public reporting
- The work recognized by the award can relate to many areas of law
- Federal civil rights enforcement sometimes appears in public biographies of honorees
- It helps to separate bar association honors from legal outcomes
- Sources
Key Facts
- Federal and state: The American Bar Association Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity sponsors the Stonewall Award.
- Federal and state: ABA materials describe the Stonewall Award as recognizing lawyers who have advanced LGBTQ people in the legal profession and championed LGBTQ legal causes.
- Federal and state: ABA materials state that the Stonewall Award is named after the Stonewall Inn raid and uprising of June 28, 1969.
- Federal and state: GLAD reported that the Stonewall Awards were presented on Feb. 9, 2013, during a reception at the 2013 ABA Midyear Meeting in Dallas.
- Federal level: GLAD identified Matt Nosanchuk as an associate general counsel for legal counsel at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at the time of the 2013 Stonewall Awards.
- Federal and state: GLAD reported that Mary L. Bonauto and Mia F. Yamamoto were also honored as 2013 Stonewall Award recipients.
- Federal level: A White House archive biography states that Matt Nosanchuk received the American Bar Association’s inaugural Stonewall Award in 2013.
The ABA Stonewall Award recognizes LGBTQ equality work in the legal profession
The Stonewall Award is an honor sponsored by the American Bar Association (ABA) Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. ABA descriptions of the award connect it to the legacy of the Stonewall Inn raid and uprising on June 28, 1969, and explain that the award recognizes lawyers who have advanced LGBTQ people in the legal profession and championed LGBTQ legal causes.
The inaugural Stonewall Awards were presented at the 2013 ABA Midyear Meeting
Reliable reporting from Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) describes the Stonewall Award as newly created in 2013. In that inaugural year, GLAD reported that the commission presented the Stonewall Awards on Feb. 9, 2013, during a reception at the 2013 ABA Midyear Meeting in Dallas.
Matt Nosanchuk was among the inaugural honorees and he held a federal government role
GLAD’s report on the first-year awards identified Matt Nosanchuk as an associate general counsel for legal counsel at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Washington, D.C. A biography in the White House archives also states that Nosanchuk received the American Bar Association’s inaugural Stonewall Award in 2013.
Other 2013 recipients were also recognized in public reporting
According to GLAD, Mary L. Bonauto was recognized with the newly created Stonewall Award in 2013, and she was honored along with Matt Nosanchuk and Mia F. Yamamoto. In that same report, GLAD described Yamamoto as a criminal defense lawyer and human rights activist in Los Angeles.
The work recognized by the award can relate to many areas of law
The ABA’s description of the Stonewall Award focuses on professional and legal work that advances LGBTQ inclusion and equal treatment. Public biographies of some honorees describe work connected to major civil rights issues, including federal civil rights enforcement and litigation involving the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
Federal civil rights enforcement sometimes appears in public biographies of honorees
For example, a White House archive biography describes Nosanchuk’s earlier work in the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, including involvement with the implementation of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
It helps to separate bar association honors from legal outcomes
Professional awards from legal organizations can be meaningful signals of peer recognition, but they are not court rulings and they do not change statutes or regulations by themselves. The legal issues discussed in connection with an honoree’s career may involve separate decision-makers, such as courts, legislatures, or government agencies, depending on the topic and jurisdiction.
