“Absolutely Necessary” - Harvard Law School LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic, Beyond Binary Legal, and Industry Leaders Release New Guide on Nonbinary Inclusion In The Workplace

“Creating More Welcoming Workplaces” - Toolkit Advances Practical Tips for Nonbinary Inclusion in Legal Workplaces  

Media inquiries may contact Andy Izenson, aizenson@law.harvard.edu. 

CAMBRIDGE, MA – Scholars and practitioners alike recognize that providing a more welcoming work environment for nonbinary people requires the legal community to adapt and incorporate inclusive policies and practices.  

To advance nonbinary inclusion in the legal profession, Beyond Binary Legal, the Harvard Law School LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic, the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, the National Transgender Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and The National Association for Law Placement have created a digital toolkit with practical steps and best practices for fostering a nonbinary-inclusive work environment. The guide describes the challenges nonbinary people experience in the legal profession, provides specific organizational policy recommendations, and includes practical suggestions for individuals seeking to support nonbinary colleagues. 

“The legal community should support nonbinary and gender nonconforming people because it is the right thing to do, but there are more tangible reasons as well,” stated Alexander Chen, Founding Director of the Harvard Law School LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic. “When we foster inclusion, we improve workplace cohesion and attract and retain talent. Everyone has a role to play in making the legal profession more welcoming to nonbinary people, and this guide provides recommendations for both organizations and individuals to support their nonbinary and gender nonconforming peers and colleagues.” 

Skip Harsch, Director of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity stated, "by cosponsoring the publication 'Creating More Welcoming Workplaces,’ we recognize the profound impact of inclusive environments. We believe in the power of organizations to humanize workplaces, where individuals of every sexual orientation and gender identity feel valued, respected, and empowered to bring their authentic selves. Embracing diversity and promoting inclusivity not only fosters a sense of belonging but also unlocks the full potential of every individual, creating a harmonious and vibrant work culture that enriches the lives of employees and drives organizational success. Together, let us build workplaces that celebrate the beautiful tapestry of humanity and embrace the strength that lies in our diverse experiences and identities."   

A recent webinar hosted by the American Bar Association shared the guide and provided viewers an opportunity to hear from prominent nonbinary attorneys. Andy Izenson, a Staff Attorney with the Harvard Law School LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic and the Senior Legal Director of the Chosen Family Law Center moderated the webinar and its 500 registrants, facilitating the conversation as practitioners discussed the guide and their experiences in the legal profession. 

Rafael Langer-Osuna, a Partner at Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP, Co-Chair of Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom, and Co-Chair of the National Transgender Bar Association identified the guide as "a fantastic resource." Another panelist, Rebekah Tobison Scherr, a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis and Board Member of the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, called the guide “absolutely necessary to reduce the burden on associates and junior lawyers to explain who they are.”  

Panelists also spoke about their workplace experiences as nonbinary attorneys. August Hieber, the Senior Program Manager for the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts was also on the panel, and discussed how having the guide would have improved their experiences early in their career. D Dangaran, the Director of Gender Justice at Rights Behind Bars and Co-Chair of the National Transgender Bar Association, shared instances of discrimination throughout their career and touched on the importance of the guide as a tool to prevent others from having these experiences.  Ultimately, the panelists emphasized the importance of the toolkit as the first in a long line of steps towards greater inclusivity for nonbinary attorneys.  

The digital toolkit is available for organizations and any legal professional with nonbinary colleagues.  

The Harvard Law School LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic engages in cutting-edge impact litigation, legislative and policy advocacy, and public education on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.  The Clinic aims to shape the future of LGBTQ+ advocacy by focusing on advancing the rights of LGBTQ+ people as whole persons embedded in the wider fabric of society and their local communities, with a particular emphasis on issues affecting the most marginalized members of the LGBTQ+ community.   

Beyond Binary Legal was founded in 2019 by nonbinary people in the legal field to help our communities—everyone who is not exclusively a woman or a man—access the support they need. At Beyond Binary Legal, we aim to facilitate meaningful communication and improve access to resources and support for people living beyond the gender binary by providing nonbinary people with knowledge about the law, and educating advocates and institutions about the needs of gender diverse people. 

The National LGBTQ+ Bar Association is a national association of lawyers, judges and other legal professionals, law students, activists, and affiliate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender legal organizations. The LGBTQ+ Bar promotes justice in and through the legal profession for the LGBTQ+ community in all its diversity. 

The American Bar Association's Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI), as one of the four ABA Goal III Entities, leads the Association's commitment to diversity, inclusion and full and equal participation by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in the Association, legal profession, and society. 

The National Association for Law Placement (NALP) is an association of over 3000 legal career professionals who advise law students, lawyers, law offices, and law schools in North America and beyond. 

The National Trans Bar Association (NTBA) is a national bar association by and for trans legal professionals and cisgender legal professionals who care about trans rights.