In 2017, Roger Williams School of Law established its annual Stonewall Lecture. The title of the lecture series pays tribute to the 1969 events known as the Stonewall Uprising. The lecture series itself pays tribute to all the individuals who have fought for LGBTQ+ equality and justice and the contributions they have made to advance this civil rights movement.
On June 28, 1969 police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular LGBTQ+ bar and now a national monument, located in the Greenwich Village section of New York City. Although this was not the first time the bar had been raided, the event sparked the local LGBTQ+ community to fight back. The uprising that continued for the next 5 days was a turning point in the civil rights struggle for LGBTQ+ rights. This was not the first efforts at activism for LGBTQ+ rights but because of this event the public support and awareness that developed was unprecedented.
On February 2, 2023, Roger Williams School of Law will hold its 6th Annual Stonewall Lecture. This year’s keynote speaker is Senator Dawn Euer L’10. Senator Euer represents RI Senate District 13, which encompasses Jamestown and most of Newport. An activist and organizer, Senator Euer is a staunch ally to the LGBTQ+ community. She served as the Deputy Campaign Manager of Marriage Equality Rhode Island, a local grassroots campaign leading to RI being the 10th state to recognize the rights and dignity of same sex couples. Senator Euer also sponsored successful legislation assisting LGBTQ+ military veterans unfairly discharge under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. The legislation allows LGBTQ+ military veterans’ discharges to be recognized as honorable, allowing access to state veteran benefits.
Senator Euer’s discussion for the 6th Annual Stonewall Lecture will discuss the importance of allyship. What is allyship? Join the discussion...
Please register to attend the Stonewall Lecture.
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