LGBT Asian Am./South Asian Lawyers Networking Reception in New York City

Featuring Hawaii Supreme Court Justice Sabrina McKenna

On July 17, 2012, over forty members of the bar “came out” to celebrate the diversity within the LGBT and Asian American and South Asian communities.  The event was jointly sponsored by LGBT and APA lawyers associations and law firms.

Partners and associates at corporate firms, government attorneys, solo practitioners and small firms, and public interest lawyers enjoyed this networking reception that raised money for students to attend the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance conference in Washington, DC in July 2012.

The Honorable Sabrina McKenna, Associate Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court, gave a compelling keynote address that told her story of rising through the ranks as a legal services attorney, to a corporate law firm, to the bench and finally to the State Supreme Court.  She reminded attendees of the legal history of anti-Asian discrimination and the current problem of LGBT youth suicide in America today, especially among LGBT Asian American youth.  Everyone was moved by her outstanding remarks. 

Special thanks go out to Kaye Scholer LLP for hosting and all the co-sponsors for making the evening possible. 

Law Firm Diamond Host:

Kaye Scholer LLP

Law Firm Gold Co-Sponsors:

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

WilmerHale LLP

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

Law Firm Silver Co-Sponsors:

Crowell & Moring LLP

Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP

Law Firm Bronze Co-Sponsors:

Shearman & Sterling LLP

Bar Association Co-Sponsors:

Asian American Bar Association of NY

LeGaL – The LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance

South Asian Bar Association of New York