Juno Foundation Hosts NCLR 30th Anniversary Reception

The Juno Foundation and Phish Phest Entertainment hosted a private, in-home reception for the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

NCLR is a non-profit, public interest law firm that litigates precedent-setting cases at the trial and appellate court levels, advocates for equitable public policies, and provides free legal service, advice, counseling and education to the LGBT community. Each year NCLR serves more than 5,000 people in all fifty states.

The Juno Foundation was proud to be one of the reception sponsors. “NCLR is making a difference at the community level; they are out there in the trenches… visible, tangible. It’s incredible what they do and Juno is honored to help support their efforts”, said Genie Wood, president of the Juno Foundation.

Highlight of the evening: Kate Kendell spoke at the reception and asked for support for NCLR’s law-changing work. Kate acts as the primary spokesperson on behalf of NCLR. She has done hundreds of interviews with dozens of print, electronic and web media, including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, US News and World Report, The Advocate, Crossfire, 20/20, National Public Radio, Salon and many others.

Kate, a.k.a. the “Head Lesbian”, is the mother of two children and longtime partner to Sandy Holmes. Kendell was born in Portland, Oregon to a Mormon family. She says that growing up Mormon trained her to become the kind of activist she is today but that she hasn't considered herself Mormon since she became a feminist. Once an attorney with the ACLU, she now devotes all her time leading NCLR. On the NCLR’s recent docket: a California man’s right to the pension fund of his deceased life partner of 51 years; the rights of same-sex partners to inherit their common home tax-free when one of them dies; plus dozens of cases involving parental rights and five cases of political asylum for refugees fleeing anti-gay violence.

 If you are interested in learning more about NCLR, visit here.