Lambda Legal today announced it has named Dr. Jason S. Schneider as the recipient of the Harry H. Harkins Jr. Luminary Award, recognizing his extraordinary leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and justice for LGBTQ+ communities. The award will be presented at the Lambda Legal in Atlanta benefit at the Georgia Aquarium on August 23, 2026.
The award, named in honor of the late Harry H. Harkins Jr. — a pioneering advocate and legal trailblazer — celebrates individuals whose courage, compassion, and conviction illuminate the path forward for others. Like Harry, Jason is a quiet force whose impact radiates throughout the South and beyond.
A Professor at Emory University’s School of Medicine and President Elect of the United States Professional Association for Transgender Health, Dr. Schneider has dedicated his professional career to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ people and those living with HIV. At Emory University, Dr. Schneider’s leadership ranged from his leadership in the institution’s President’s Commission for LGBTQ Concerns to supporting the development of the successful case to expand inclusive policies and health benefits for students and staff. In addition, he has active research projects addressing health care needs for transgender women. Throughout his career he has taught and mentored medical students, preparing the next generation of physicians and researchers to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ people.
Dr. Schneider’s impact reaches well beyond Emory’s campus. He was a co-founder of the Gender Center at Grady. This Center offers multidisciplinary care for transgender and gender-diverse people in metro Atlanta. He served on the Board of Directors of the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA), including two years as president, and chair of the LGBTQ+ section of the American Medical Association. Throughout the year, Dr. Schneider can be found testifying before Georgia legislative committees alongside LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations such as Georgia Equality to fight bad LGBTQ legislation and promote positive legislation.
“Dr. Schneider exemplifies Harry’s spirit as a kind, influential and strategic community leader and mentor,” said Michael D. Shutt, Lambda Legal Southern Regional Director. “It brings me so much joy in the fact that Dr. Schneider both knew and was influenced by Harry many years ago. It is obvious that a part of Harry’s light and legacy was passed to Jason years ago. He is a visionary, a connector, and a quiet but powerful catalyst for change. His light guides others—just as Harry’s did.”
Dr. Schneider works in the Division of General Internal Medicine at Emory University. He joined the Emory faculty after completing the Primary Care Internal Medicine residency at Emory in 2003. He received his M.D. from New York University School of Medicine in Manhattan in 2000.
About the Harry H. Harkins Jr. Luminary Award
A luminary is someone who lights the way – an individual whose presence, influence, and vision illuminate the path forward for others. In every sense of the word, Harry H. Harkins Jr. was a luminary: a brilliant force in the legal profession and a tireless advocate for LGBTQ+ rights whose legacy continues to shine.
The rights of LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV in the American South are forever impacted by Harry’s eight years of service on the Lambda Legal National Board of Directors, including his service as Board Chair. In this role, Harry successfully advocated for the opening of Lambda Legal’s Southern Regional Office in Atlanta, leading to numerous legal wins. Harry also understood the need to create a coalition of legal workers who could use their professional expertise to support the rights of LGBTQ+ people and oppose discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. To that end, Harry co-founded and served as the first president of the Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia. Throughout his time in Georgia, he used his financial resources, personal connections, and his personal home as tools to bring people together for the greater community good. Following his move from Georgia to Florida, Harry continued to provide his time and resources to support organizations positively impacting the lives of LGBTQ+ people, including service on the Host Committee for the annual Lambda Legal in Fort Lauderdale benefit event and opening his home for fundraisers in Sarasota. Capacity and community building grounded Harry’s life and cemented his legacy.
The Harry H. Harkins Jr. Luminary Award honors individuals who, like Harry, lead with courage, compassion, and conviction to advance the cause of equality and justice. They are quiet trailblazers, advocates, organizers, and changemakers whose light may not always be seen but is always felt. They inspire others through their work and example – prominent figures in their spheres who radiate light, hope, and justice, but rarely stand in the light themselves. Their work illuminates the way for current and future generations of LGBTQ+ advocates. They give more than they take, embodying the spirit of service and progress that defines Harry’s life and legacy.
WHERE: Lambda Legal in Atlanta Benefit
Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
WHEN: August 23, 2026
1:00-4:00 p.m.
For ticket and sponsorship information for the Lambda Legal in Atlanta benefit, please visit www.lambdalegal.org/atlanta
