May 16, 2012 -- The LeGaL Foundation of the LGBT Bar Association of Greater York (LeGaL) is pleased to announce that its June Pride Celebration will honor the "Women of Marriage Equality." The event, which will be held at the Andaz hotel on Wall Street, will be the first of its kind to specifically honor the historic contributions made by women in securing marriage equality in New York.

    "Since the passage of marriage equality in New York we have wanted to honor the many women who were instrumental to that victory, " said Carlene Jadusingh, LeGaL's President. "We are thrilled to be kicking off Pride weekend in New York with an overdue celebration of their contributions."

    Among the women being honored who have confirmed attendance to date are:

Elizabeth B. Cooper, Associate Professor of Law, Fordham University School of Law

Roberta Kaplan, Partner, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; Counsel in Windsor v. United States and, previously, in Samuels v. New York State Dept. of Health

Kitty & Cheryle Lambert-Rudd, Co-Founders and Past President of OUTspoken For Equality; Current President of Blossom OUT!; First LGBT Couple to marry in NYS

Cathy Marino-Thomas, Co-President, Marriage Equality USA
 
Kate McDonough, Lead Organizer, Empire State Pride Agenda

Chaplain Carol Speser, Activist, Founder/Director of Rainbow Spirit Rising; Founding Board Member, Empire State Pride Agenda

Anne Tischer, Founded Equality Rochester; Founding Member Rochester chapter Pride at Work AFL-CIO; Founder Rochester chapter of Marriage Equality New York

Kathryn S. Wylde, President and CEO, Partnership for New York City

LeGaL anticipates the list of outstanding women being honored to grow in the days ahead. Although not everyone deserving of the recognition can attend, the event will bring a spotlight on the vital work and activism of the event's honorees and many others who contributed to the effort.    

The event, which will mark the nearly one-year anniversary of passage of the historic measure, will be held the evening of June 22. Additional event and RSVP details will be available soon at www.le-gal.org. Inquiries regarding sponsorship opportunities for the event can be sent to info@le-gal.org.