The Hispanic National Bar Association’s first openly lesbian president joins Lambda Legal Senior Counsel Richard Saenz to discuss representation, leadership, and how to build a more inclusive future in the legal field.
As we celebrate both Latinx Heritage Month and LGBTQ+ History Month in October, we’re honoring the trailblazers making history and building a more just future. Raquel Matas is one of them: as the first openly lesbian woman to serve as National President of the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), she is breaking barriers and expanding what leadership looks like in the legal profession.
Lambda Legal has partnered with the HNBA and its LGBT Division on the LGBT Leadership Summit since its inception, creating space for LGBTQ+ legal professionals to build community, strengthen their expertise, and lead. Continuing this collaborative partnership, Lambda Legal Senior Counsel and HNBA member Richard Saenz recently spoke with Matas about her historic presidency, the power of representation, and the work ahead to ensure LGBTQ+ Latino/a/e/ attorneys have the opportunities and resources to thrive.
Richard: We are excited to celebrate the history that you are making as the first openly lesbian woman to serve as National President of the Hispanic National Bar Association. What does this moment mean to you personally, and what do you hope your leadership represents for LGBTQ+ and Latino/a/e attorneys and law students and to the broader legal community?
Raquel: I am deeply honored to have been entrusted with the presidency of the HNBA, an organization with a proud history of empowering Hispanic legal professionals and advocating for the Hispanic community, and championing diversity within the organization and beyond. I am tremendously optimistic about what we can accomplish together, particularly at a time when our collective voice and leadership are so important. Hispanic Heritage Month reminds us of the contributions of our community and the importance of continuing to open doors for those who follow.
I recognize the historic significance of being the first openly lesbian woman to serve as HNBA President, and I certainly hope I will not be the last. Representation in leadership matters. It challenges traditional notions of what a leader looks like and reinforces that everyone deserves the opportunity to grow, succeed, and lead. Above all, I am proud and excited to serve the entire HNBA community, celebrating the diversity that strengthens us and the shared purpose that brings us together.
Richard: The HNBA has long advocated for the Hispanic legal community while creating opportunities for attorneys, law students, and other legal professionals to grow as leaders across the legal field — from law firms and nonprofits to the judiciary, government service, bar associations, and in law schools. What are some of the priorities or focus areas you’re most excited to work on during your presidency?
Raquel: One of my principal priorities is growing the HNBA’s membership and strengthening the connections that make this organization so special. I want every Hispanic lawyer, law student, judge, academic, or legal professional, to know that the HNBA is more than a professional association. It is a community, a familia, where relationships are built, opportunities are created, and members support one another throughout their careers. I want more Hispanic legal professionals to discover the HNBA community and become part of it.
Equally important, I want to ensure that the HNBA remains a strong, vibrant, and principled voice for our community, particularly for those whose voices too often go unheard. As lawyers, we have a special responsibility to defend the rule of law, uphold the Constitution, protect our democratic institutions, and advocate for equal justice under the law. These commitments are central to who we are as an organization and must remain at the heart of our work.
Richard: Lambda Legal, the HNBA, and the LGBT Division have partnered to support the LGBT Leadership Summit since its inception. What have you seen this partnership make possible for LGBTQ+ Latino/a/e lawyers, and why are spaces like the LGBT Leadership Summit so important for building community, legal expertise and skills, and the next generation of leaders?
Raquel: I had the privilege of being one of the founding organizers of the first HNBA LGBT Division Leadership Summit, and Lambda Legal was our partner from the very beginning. That partnership has been invaluable. Lambda Legal brings extraordinary depth of expertise across a broad range of LGBTQ+ legal issues, helping the HNBA’s LGBT Division deliver high-quality educational programming to HNBA members and to the broader community on complex subjects that are often misunderstood, misrepresented, or dismissed.
But the Summit has always been about more than education. It is also about building community, creating connections, and developing future leaders. One of the most rewarding experiences for me has been watching accomplished attorneys assume leadership roles within the LGBT Division, knowing that not so long ago, some of them were attending the Summit as law students. That, to me, is a powerful testament to the lasting impact of this partnership.
Richard: When you think about the generations of Latino/a/e lawyers and advocates who came before you — and those who will come after you — what do you hope we carry forward, and what do you hope we change?
Raquel: I am keenly aware that the generations of Hispanic lawyers who came before me, including the founders of the HNBA, faced barriers and often more overt discrimination than I experienced in my own career. Their courage, resilience, and determination to challenge injustice opened doors and created opportunities that my generation has benefited from. We owe them an enormous debt of gratitude.
What I hope we carry forward is that same fighting spirit, that sense of responsibility to stand up against injustice and work toward a society where everyone has a fair opportunity to succeed. And what I hope we change are the barriers that continue to stand in the way. The greatest way to honor those who came before us is not simply to celebrate what they accomplished, but to continue the work they began.
Richard: What is your message directly to LGBTQ+ Latino/a/e attorneys who are looking for ways to get involved?
Raquel: Here is my message: Come join us. Become part of the HNBA familia. You will find a community that welcomes you, celebrates who you are, invests in your professional growth, and offers countless opportunities to connect, learn, serve, and lead. You will find mentors, colleagues, and friends who will support you throughout your career, and opportunities to use your talents and your voice to make a difference.
The HNBA is stronger when all of our voices and experiences are represented. We need your energy, your ideas, your talents, and your leadership. There is a place for you here, and we want you to be part of what we build together.
To further honor this month, check out Six LGBTQ+ Latinx Trailblazers Who Made History with Lambda Legal.