As part of its ongoing support of the LGBTQ community, Boston College Law School has launched an effort to raise funds to create an endowed scholarship with a preference for students who have shown dedication to advancing the needs and interests of members of the LGBTQ community. The fund, to be named the LGBTQ Legal Equality Scholarship Fund, was recently seeded with commitments totaling just over $100,000.
A lead donor in this effort is Thomas Gaynor ’01 (above), an attorney at DLA Piper in San Francisco. “As a Jesuit law school, Boston College has been, and must continue to be, a first leader in the quest for social justice and legal equality for LGBTQ individuals,” he said, explaining his commitment. “This fund and scholarship are intended to support that mission by making the opportunity the Law School provided to me available to others whose passion and drive can and will make society a safer and more secure legal environment for LGBTQ persons. It is an honor to provide this seed funding for the training of future lawyers who will be the needed promoters and guardians of that vision of equality.”
Efforts are now under way to reach a goal of $250,000 to name the first Legal Equality Scholar. Until then, income from this fund will be used to support financial aid at Boston College Law School.
For more information on the LGBTQ Legal Equality Scholarship Fund, or if you are interested in supporting this effort, please contact Maria Tringale, director of development, at maria.tringale@bc.edu.
The LGBTQ Legal Equality Scholarship Fund initiative is aligned with another development at Boston College, the establishment of the LGBTQ+ Alumni Council, which last spring joined the University’s roster of more than a dozen identity and professionally based alumni affinity groups. The organization is a forum for dialogue, connection, and education among BC alumni who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer, or an ally.
An event to celebrate the launch of the LGBTQ+ Alumni Council web page will be held on October 24. Clicking on the “Get Involved” tab will allow alumni who identify as LGBTQ+ or allies to opt-in to receive email communications on programs and future events, including the October launch. The website is also a go-to resource of other opportunities to participate and network.