Pullman & Comley is proud to celebrate Pride Month. Our society is best when we recognize every person's intrinsic worth. For too long, members of the LGBTQ+ community have been marginalized, and it was a historic moment when the community collectively said “no more.” Unfortunately, there is still much work to be done to ensure equal rights for everyone regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Pullman & Comley has a long history of support for the LGBTQ+ community and has been a trailblazer in advancement of the cause of this community. We are proud of our partner John Stafstrom, co-chair of our Public and Private Finance Department, for his lifetime of service in the furtherance of LGBTQ+ issues, including his work on the national board of directors and as immediate past chair of Lambda Legal, a national organization committed to protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ communities and those living with AIDS. John, who now serves as co-chair of Lambda's 50th Anniversary Campaign, was recently profiled for his life of activism in the Pride issue of CT Voice. Our firm is a longtime supporter of Lambda's Connecticut Cares annual fundraiser event. We are proud of our partner, Jessica Grossarth Kennedy, for her work in founding the CBA's LGBT Section, serving at the section’s first chair, and her commitment to diversifying the ranks of Connecticut’s attorneys, as noted by The Connecticut Law Tribune. Some of our former partners also have been leading lights on these issues, and continue their good work in their capacity in our state government. We are proud of our former law partner, Andrew McDonald for his service to our state, both in writing the legislation in Connecticut that resulted in legalizing gay marriage and for being selected as Connecticut’s first openly gay Justice on the Supreme Court. We are proud of our former partner, Erick Russell, who assisted Jess in the formation of the LGBT Section of the CBA and was recently elected as State Treasurer. In the process of doing so, Erick became the first openly gay African American elected to a statewide office in our nation.
While we celebrate Pride Month in June, we recognize that the struggle for a decent and welcoming society is a yearlong, everyday task, and the work continues. Our firm stands strong and united in fostering diversity, equity and inclusion.