In 2022, the National LGBTQ+ Bar Foundation established a need-based grant available to graduating transgender and/or nonbinary law graduates of color. The 2024 Trans/Nonbinary Law Graduates of Color Grant Fund will award three unrestricted $1,000 grants, to help offset the costs associated with the period of time between graduation and taking the Bar Exam/employment. Accepted grantees will also receive a 1-year free membership with the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association.
2024 Grantees
Riss Aguilar
Riss has a deep commitment to the well-being and livelihoods of Black and brown trans folks. They are particularly dedicated to advancing civil rights for LGBTQ+ people held in pretrial detention. In their work as an attorney, they hope to significantly reduce government harm, stay connected to on-the-ground efforts, and be an accessible advocate for their community.
Sean King
Sean is a Brooklyn native and recent graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law. Prior to law school, he worked as a foreclosure paralegal in Staten Island, assisting families fighting to stay in their homes. While in law school he sat on the board of OUTLaw, helping to bring both entertaining and educational LGBTQ+ focused events to campus. He also helped local Philadelphians change their legal name as a coordinator with Temple’s Name Change Project. After passing the New York bar, Sean intends to help LGBTQ+ families plan for their future as a Trusts and Estates attorney. When not figuring out how to practice law, Sean can be found scouring the internet for new desert and dinner recipes.
Valentine
Valentine is a 2024 graduate of DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, and will be sitting for the July 2024 Illinois Bar Exam. In addition to earning their J.D. from DePaul, they also received a Degree Certificate in Intellectual Property, with a concentration in Art and Museum Law. They have experience working on trademark, copyright, trade secret, right of publicity, and unfair competition matters, and are working toward a career in intellectual property and business law for the arts, entertainment, and adult industries. Valentine is also an experienced business consultant serving alternative, creative, and adult companies and organizations throughout Chicago and beyond.
Additionally, Valentine is involved with the First Amendment Lawyers Association, the Free Speech Coalition, the Lesbian & Gay Bar Association of Chicago, the Richard Linn American Inn of Court, the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, and many other affinity, practice area, and special interest organizations.
Valentine also holds a B.A. in Musical Theatre Performance and an M.A. in Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago, as well as a certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University. Their teaching credits include various law school, university, and conference lectures, workshops, and panels, covering topics including DEI, creative entrepreneurship, the performing arts, sex worker rights, and more.
They are deeply grateful for the LGBTQ+ Bar Association’s assistance in their legal journey. After the Bar, they look forward to continuing to leverage their experience in niche and marginalized industries, combined with their legal expertise, to promote labor rights, worker safety, free expression, and the right to contract, with the aim of helping their clientele protect themselves and their work, while generating comfort, security, and generational wealth.