Civil rights champion, and one of the most recognized lesbian leaders in the country, Elizabeth Birch will be honored Thursday, Oct. 25 by SCU’s School of Law during its fourth annual Celebration of Diversity Gala.
Birch spent nearly a decade as president and executive director of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocacy organization. During her tenure from 1995 to 2004, membership in the group grew from 100,000 to 1.1 million supporters, and the budget rose from $6.5 million to nearly $30 million.
An alumna of the Santa Clara University School of Law, Birch is credited with building HRC into one of the most respected mainstream advocacy agencies today, a model of professionalism and cutting-edge communication in the nonprofit world. Her fresh, creative approach to helping Americans better understand the LGBT community has earned her numerous awards, including highest honors from the Leadership Council on Human Rights.
Donald J. Polden, dean of the law school, says Santa Clara University is fortunate to have outstanding graduates such as Birch, who will receive the school’s annual Social Justice and Human Rights Award. "Through her work as an LGBT and civil rights activist and former leader of the Human Rights Campaign, Ms. Birch serves as a role model for our students. It is most appropriate that the law school honors her and recognizes her many contributions to law and society at an event that highlights the importance of a highly diverse legal profession."
Besides recognizing the work of an individual who has furthered the causes of equality, social justice, and human rights, the Celebration of Diversity provides students with an opportunity to build valuable relationships with members of the legal profession. Birch, who in addition to her nonprofit work served as worldwide director of litigation for Apple Inc., will offer insights to students into both public and private legal sectors.
One of the top 10 most ethnically diverse law schools in the nation, SCU’s School of Law has a long tradition of valuing and promoting diversity among students, staff and faculty. The annual celebration also serves as a fundraiser for the school’s Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights scholarship, supporting current and future law students who are committed to equality, inclusion and social justice. The award is presented in the spring.
The Celebration of Diversity will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the San Jose City Hall Rotunda, 200 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose. Introductory remarks will be provided by nationally recognized civic leader, philanthropist, and public servant Ambassador James C. Hormel. The Celebration of Diversity is made possible by the support of its sponsors. The Title Sponsor for this year’s event is Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP.
