I have been nominated for LGBTIQ activist of the year

I have been nominated for LGBTIQ activist of the year

I am honoured and humbled to have been nominated for LGBTIQ activist of the year in the Queen’s Birthday Ball Awards to be held in Brisbane this Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

As I posted recently, I have been an LGBTIQ activist for the last 23 years, which seems to be an extraordinarily long period. When I took my oath of office as a solicitor way back in 1987, I was determined that as a lawyer I would seek to achieve Jefferson’s dream of all being equal under the law, and seek to change the law so that it achieved equality. I have sought to do so ever since.

Today I was again humbled when I saw that I had been praised by two of my international peers- to more of my international peers.

Mr Steve Snyder is a prominent surrogacy lawyer in the United States. He was for many years the driving force behind the Artificial Reproductive Technologies Committee of the American Bar Association. I am one of two international representatives on that committee.

This is what Steve said, after I quoted him saying that I should be proud to be both an activist and a lawyer

“Stephen- I hereby reaffirm my support and respect by saying you are and should be proud of your roles as both attorney and activist. All of us in this area of practice need to be both, and you are a shining example of that. I am proud of you. I am sure we all are!”

Ms Judy Sperling-Newton is the Executive Director of the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys (AAARTA). I am  the first international fellow of AAARTA. I am also a member of the LGBT Family Law Institute, about which I have blogged recently. In writing to other members of the LGBT Family Law Institute, Judy said : “A distinguished member of FLI” then went on to say:

“Good morning friends. I am so pleased to let you know that Stephen Page, a member of FLI, has been nominated to be named the LGBTIQ Activist of the Year for the Queen’s Birthday Ball Awards in Australia! ….CONGRATULATIONS for the honor of being nominated, Stephen!”

The person who is named activist of the year is decided by vote. Voting closes 5pm Friday, Brisbane time. To vote, follow the links from here.

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Family Law Section Law Council of Australia Award
Member of Queensland law society
Family law Practitioners Association
International Academy of Family Lawyers - IAFL
Mediator Standards Board