Connecticut Bar Association LGBT Section Gathering with Connecticut Supreme Court Justice Andrew McDonald

On November 13, 2013, the new Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Section of the Connecticut Bar Association held a meeting featuring Connecticut Supreme Court Justice Andrew McDonald. Justice McDonald is Connecticut’s first openly gay Supreme Court justice. He is also, as came up time and time again in LGBT Section members’ comments, a devoted mentor to young gay and lesbian attorneys.

LGBT Section Chair Jessica Grossarth, whose own vision and work made the LGBT Section possible, made the evening’s opening remarks. About her former colleague Justice McDonald, she commented “in my early days as an attorney with Pullman & Comley — which happened to be a critical time in my personal life — there was no better role model for me than Andrew. Andrew’s presence and confidence in who he was made me feel more comfortable in my own skin and less different.”

Meghan Freed, the LGBT Section Vice Chair, spoke about the Section’s committment to continue in the tradition of Justice McDonald. She noted the Section’s mission “to provide a network for LGBT lawyers and their friends, colleagues, and allies, ensuring that not only are LGBT members of the bar supported, but that all Connecticut lawyers have access to resources to help them better serve their LGBT clients across substantive areas of the law.”

Treasurer Erick Russell introduced Justice McDonald, his mentor and friend, and noted that “yesterday marked the five-year anniversary of marriage equality in Connecticut, and it’s encouraging to see other states across the country using our laws as a model for bringing marriage equality to same sex couples in their states. The anniversary of marriage equality also makes it especially exciting to welcome Justice McDonald, one of the leaders in the movement for marriage equality in Connecticut to tonight’s LGBT section meeting.”

Justice McDonald shared personal experiences and stories about navigating the legal community as a gay attorney, and about his journey to the bench. He also credited Connecticut’s position at the forefront of marriage equality to the efforts of Connecticut lawyers.