Gifts support two attorneys and dramatically increase the organization’s litigation capacity.
Lambda Legal is proud to announce two principal gifts totaling $2.5 million from Eileen Amy Ryan, her niece Maureen Ryan, and The Darby Foundation. These extraordinary commitments will support two attorneys for the organization and arrive at a critical juncture as we continue our vital work protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals amidst a barrage of discriminatory legislation in state legislatures nationwide.
“We are incredibly grateful to Maureen Ryan, The Darby Foundation, and Eileen Amy Ryan for these generous commitments, which will be instrumental in our efforts to combat the hostile climate facing LGBTQ+ Americans,” said Kevin Jennings, CEO of Lambda Legal. “We are drastically out-staffed and outspent by anti-equality forces. These generous commitments will allow us to fund attorneys to expand our capacity to defend against anti-LGBTQ+ attacks and win new protections for the most vulnerable of our community. With over 1,200 bills flooding 48 state houses since 2022, philanthropic leaders like Maureen and Eileen are essential partners in the fight to uphold and expand equal rights protections for everyone.”
“Often LGBTQ+ people have been attacked as somehow undermining ‘family values.’ The Ryans epitomize real ‘family values’ by being a family who support each other in both thought and deed. I am proud to have their support and proud to call them my friends,” said Jennings.
Lambda Legal has remained at the forefront of litigation to overturn the over 130 new anti-LGBTQ+ laws that have been passed in 24 states since 2022 in order to defend the basic rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals.
“As a transgender woman myself, I know how deeply these laws hurt. Our ordinary day-to-day activities are restricted or criminalized solely because we are trans, and we sometimes feel alone and discouraged. But we are not alone. I’m honored to stand with Lambda Legal as they wage the battle for LGBTQ+ equality during these precarious times,” said Eileen Amy Ryan. “I’m grateful for their unrelenting advocacy in the courts and state capitals to safeguard the hard-won freedoms our community has secured through decades of perseverance.”
“We are proud to support the indispensable work of Lambda Legal in these challenging times,” said Maureen Ryan of The Darby Foundation. “As a tireless champion for LGBTQ+ equality through litigation and advocacy, Lambda Legal plays a pivotal role in upholding our family values, including protections the community has secured over decades of struggle.”
The $1.5 million gift from Eileen Amy Ryan will establish the Eileen A. Ryan Staff Attorney for Nonbinary and Transgender Rights and help expand Lambda Legal’s critical work to defend against a wave of attacks against the transgender community. The Eileen A. Ryan Staff Attorney honors Eileen’s commitment to her trans family and the kind memory of her dear sister-in-law, Elayne Cassidy Nicholas, in support of Lambda Legal’s civil rights work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.
The $1 million gift from The Darby Foundation will create the Bill Thom Staff Attorney position, honoring Lambda Legal’s founder, Bill Thom. By underwriting one of our attorneys, The Darby Foundation will directly invest in Lambda Legal’s strategic plan by expanding Lambda Legal’s capacity to address the highest priority needs for members of the LGBTQ+ community while honoring Bill Thom’s legacy and our 50-year history.
“These remarkable gifts from Eileen Amy Ryan, Maureen Ryan, and The Darby Foundation will collectively transform Lambda Legal and advance our mission,” said Josh Pushkin, Chief Development Officer at Lambda Legal. “Their support will enable us to expand our reach, win new protections, and prepare for the fight ahead! “
Lambda Legal has been at the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights for over 50 years as a national legal nonprofit organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV. Lambda Legal’s lawyers have won precedent-setting civil rights cases on everything from marriage equality to gender identity to health care discrimination. Through education, advocacy, and legal action, Lambda Legal strives to protect and advance the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, advocating for a society that embraces diversity and inclusivity.