Criteria & Guidelines for Stonewall Award Nominations

The Stonewall Award recognizes lawyers, members of the judiciary, and legal academia who have effected real change to remove barriers on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in the legal profession, the world, state and/or locale, and championed diversity for the LGBT community.

Criteria

• The nominated individual, without regard to ABA membership or nationality, must be a lawyer, member of the judiciary, or a legal academic, who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of LGBT individuals in the legal profession and/or to LGBT legal issues; and
• The nominee must epitomize excellence in practice, law-related research and writing or jurisprudence; and 
• The nominee must exemplify leadership and determination, within and/or outside the LGBT community, or impacting the LGBT community; and
• The nominee must have effected change that resulted in a positive impact for the LGBT community and inspired others to act; and
• The nominee (absent contingencies such as exile, detention, or restriction on travel due to the circumstances justifying the ward) must agree to be present in person to receive the award when it is presented. No preference is given to a nominee's lifetime body of work over a single event or case. Letters of support of the nominee must also be provided.

Guidelines & Requirements: 

All materials (including nomination form) must be submitted via email to [email protected].  The nomination form and your supporting materials constitute the SOLE basis for the nomination.

1. Complete nomination form. 
   1. Please complete entire form prior to submitting.
      *  Include the nominator and the nominee's name in the subject line.
   2. Note that a nomination form must be submitted for each new nomination.  
   3. Each form may be considered for two years if the nominee is not an awardee in the first year of nomination, and upon confirmation that the nominator wishes to re-nominate the nominee.  
2. Nominee's Resume
   1. Include the nominee's resume or biography describing his or her background contributions.
3.  Articles and Letters of Recommendation
   1.  No more than five (5) LOR
   2. No more than ten (10) articles 
4. Award Criteria Narrative
   1. Describe, in 600 words, how the nominee has made a significant contribution to the advancement LGBT individuals in the legal profession and/or to LGBT legal issues. 
      
      These contributions may include, but not limited to:        -
      
          a.)  Excellence in practice, law-related research and writing, or jurisprudence;
      
          b.)  Demonstrated leadership and determination, within and/or outside the LGBT community, which  positively impacts the LGBT community; or Participation in efforts to bring  about change that resulted in a    positive impact for the  LGBT community and inspired others to act.
5. The Complete Submission Package:
   1. In order to be considered, all of the above items must be received by the Commission by the close of business at specified date provided in the "Call for Nominations" announcement.  

    Please Note:
 *  If non-critical information is not available (i.e.  the nominee's age), you may simply make note of this on the nomination form with all available information.
 *  Nomination materials will not be returned.

Nomination Form

Questions? 

Please contact Skip Harsch, Director of Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: [email protected]

2021 Virtual Stonewall Awards Celebration

Watch video of the virtual celebration for the 2021 Stonewall Award Honorees.

Stonewall Award Page 

Visit the Stonewall Award page to learn about the purpose and background of the Stonewall Award.

Links to videos and photos from past Stonewall Award events are also located on this page.

Become a Stonewall Award Supporter

Would you like to be a supporter for the 2022 Stonewall Awards?  All supporters will be recognized for their contributions according to their level of support. 

Check back soon for details about our levels of support.  

Make a donation to the SOGI Commission here.