LGBTQ + Law Section of the State Bar of Texas

12/20/2025

As part of last Thursday's annual LGBTQ+ Legal Issues in Changing Times CLE, past Section chair Eduardo Juárez (2010–2011) received the 2025 Judge Norman W. Black Award.

This is the highest award of the LGBTQ+ Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, given in memory of United States District Judge Norman W. Black for signification contributions to le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, q***r, and HIV law.

Among many accomplishments, Juárez served for 20 years as a trial lawyer and supervisor with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in San Antonio and as the 2016 president of the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association.

The Black Award was presented by Justice Charles Spain (Ret.), the 2025–2026 Section chair.

07/23/2025

2025 LGBTQ+ Law Section annual meeting in San Antonio

Section Chairs (left to right):
Eduardo Juarez (2010-2011)
Shelly Skeen (2012-2014)
Justice Charles Spain (1999-2000 & 2025-2026)
Karen Langsley (2007-2008)
Hon. Christopher Walter (2009 & 2009-2010)
Elliott Beck (2019-2020)
Fred Sultan (2015-2016)
Judge Jerry Simoneaux (2004-2005)

2005-2006 Council
Justice Charles Spain, chair
Gary Schumann, vice-chair
Elliott Beck, secretary
Shelly Skeen, treasurer
Callie Butcher, at-large position 1
Judge Beau Miller, at-large position 2
Derek Mergele-Rust, immediate past chair (2023-2025)
Brian Klosterboer, past chair (2022-2023)
Michael Debnam, past chair (2020-2022)

06/25/2025

For Lavender Law attendees in New York City

09/25/2023

Congratulations to Section Past Chair Eduardo Juarez on this tremendous and well-deserved award—the Peacemaker Award. ☮️🎖️

08/04/2023

“In its zeal to target drag, the Legislature passed a bill so yawning in scope that it criminalizes and restricts an enormous swath of constitutionally protected activity,” says the lawsuit, which was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas. “The State has threatened the livelihood and free expression of many Texans.”

State officials backing Senate Bill 12 have said they want to protect children from seeing sexually explicit performances. But a new legal challenge says the law is so broad and vague that it criminalizes constitutionally protected expression.

06/24/2023

We haven’t unpacked from this week, and we have already started planning for 2024! Mark your calendars for another tremendous conference!

Save the date for the 2024 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting—June 20-21 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas.