Claire McCaskill Backs Gay Marriage
A major voice in the Senate now joins Senator Wyden (who voted against DOMA) and Senator Merkley (who supports marriage equality).
Promoting the fair and just treatment of all people under the law regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
What is OGALLA?
OGALLA, the LGBT Bar Association of Oregon, is an association of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lawyers, judges, legal workers, law students, and others who support the association's purposes.
What is the Purpose of OGALLA?
Founded in January of 1991, OGALLA was created
as a statewide organization to support the needs
of sexual minorities and gender non-conforming people in the
legal profession.
Membership
OGALLA has nearly 150 members, and is associated with the National LGBT Bar, an affiliate of the American Bar Association. If you'd like to become a member of OGALLA, click here.
IN THE MEDIA
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24
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24
MarchBefore The Supreme Court Considers Gay Marriage, An American Change Of Heart
t is noted that the fight for equality got a boost "as activists traded a technical legal argument - about the 1,100 or so benefits of marriage that gay people should not be excluded from - for a more emotional approach focusing on love and commitment and American values." We have our allies at Basic Rights Oregon to thank for this effective shift.
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21
MarchCivil unions signed into law in Colorado
Civil unions for gay couples got the governor's signature in Colorado on Thursday, punctuating a dramatic turnaround in a state where voters banned same-sex marriage in 2006 and restricted protections for gays two decades ago.
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9
MarchQueen Elizabeth Makes Historic First Statement Supporting LGBT Rights
With apologies to President Obama, it doesn’t get bigger than this: On Sunday, Queen Elizabeth II will make a historic first public statement supporting LGBT rights and gender equity.
WHAT MAKES OGALLA WORK
OUR BOARD
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Kevin ClontsCo-ChairKevin Clonts is a litigator at Rizzo, Mattingly and Bosworth and practices complex commercial, construction, and insurance litigation matters in California and Oregon.. He represents business entities in litigation involving business dissolutions, contract disputes, and target defendants (including business and government entities) in complex products liability... READ MORE. -
Trish WalshCo-ChairBio: Trish Walsh is an attorney at Farleigh Wada Witt, specializing in civil litigation and employment law matters. Prior to joining FWW, Trish clerked for two years for the Honorable John C. Coughenour, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, in Seattle. Trish went to law school at the University of Iowa College of Law, where she served as Editor in Chief of the Iowa Law Review. -
Christopher WrightTreasurerBio: Christopher D. Wright is a native Oregonian born in St. Helens and grew up in Oregon City. He received his B.A in Accounting from Linfield in 1984 and his J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School in 1991. His practice emphasizes bankruptcy, estate planning, probate, small business issues, taxes (with emphasis on tax disputes) and special emphasis on the READ MORE -
Melissa DouglasGeneral SecretaryBio: Melissa is currently in her third year at Willamette University College of Law and serves as President for WILLO (Willamette’s LGBT law student group). In addition to school, she works as a legal intern for SAIF Corporation, where she performs both appellate and trial work. Prior to her position with SAIF, Melissa served as a law clerk for Beth Allen Law, where her work was... READ MORE -
Heidi MasonMembership SecretaryBio: Heidi Mason practices employment, labor, and privacy law at Jordan Ramis PC. She is also certified as a Professional in Human Resources. Heidi earned her bachelor's degrees in human resource management and general management from Portland State University and her J.D, from Lewis & Clark College, Northwestern
School of Law. -
Sasha BuchertMember At LargeBio: Sasha is the Communications Manager with Basic Rights Oregon. She received her J.D. from Willamette University, and is a member of Basic Rights Oregon's legal advisory group, Basic Rights’ transgender justice working group, and is the current chair of the Oregon State Hospital Advisory Board. Sasha periodically presents "Know Your Rights" workshops... READ MORE -
Megan LivermoreMember At LargeBio: Megan Livermore is an attorney with Gaydos, Churnside & Balthrop, PC, in Eugene. Her practice emphasizes civil and commercial litigation, creditor’s rights, business and real estate law. Prior to joining the firm, Megan was a law clerk for the Honorable Darryl Larson of the Lane County Circuit Court. Before going to law school, Megan worked in both the public and private sector... READ MORE -
Jonathan PattersonMember At LargeBio: Jon Patterson is a graduating third year law student at the University of Oregon School of Law. A 2012 recipient of the Bill and Ann Shepherd Scholarship, Jon is the current director of the Black Law Students Association and former director of the OUTLaws... READ MORE -
Talia StoesselMember At LargeBio:Talia Stoessel is a 2011 graduate of Northeastern Law in Boston, MA, and she moved to Oregon for the love of hiking, friendly people, and her amazing family. Talia Stoessel is currently transitioning to be General Counsel for the International Union of Operating Engineers from her judicial clerkship with the Honorable Kathie Steele.... READ MORE -
Cierra BrownStudent MemberBio: Cierra Brown is a first year law student at Willamette University College of Law. Cierra has an interest in juvenile justice. -
Alyssa SappenfieldStudent MemberBio: Alyssa Sappenfield is a first year law student at Lewis & Clark College, Northwestern School of Law. She is currently vice president of OUTLaw and a lead coordinator of the Law Students for Reproductive Justice group at L&C... READ MORE -
Adam WaltersStudent MemberBio: Adam Walters is a second-year law student at the University of Oregon School of Law, concentrating on environmental and natural resources law.