With Lambda Legal, National Guardsman Nick Harrison is taking on the military’s outdated restrictions on servicemembers living with HIV. PERFECTLY ABLE TO GIVING TO SERVE

LAMBDA LEGAL ick Harrison actually night, so we had to go locate enlisted soldier to an officer— redid law school where that was coming from.” For specifically, to join the Judge in order to fulfill his service, he won the prestigious Advocate General Corps (JAG), GIVES LGBT KIDS military service. Army Commendation Medal. the legal division for the D.C. He was more than When he got back, he went to National Guard—he hoped he halfway through the University of Oklahoma to could get a waiver to the military’s A CHANCE AT THE Nhis first year at Oklahoma City start law school afresh, gaining longstanding, outdated policy of University School of Law in 2006 both his J.D. and MBA in 2011. A generally blocking people living HAPPINESS WE HAVE. when his National Guard unit year later, after another deploy- with HIV from serving overseas was deployed to Afghanistan, to ment to the Middle East, he was or as officers. Help ensure the rights we have won are enforced and defended for generations to come. protect teams that were training diagnosed with HIV. “But I’d previ- After all, his colonel personally Establishing a legacy with Lambda Legal through your will, retirement account, life insurance the Afghan National Army ously been in a relationship with wanted him to be a JAG. He aced or trust safeguards our community's future. and Police. an HIV-positive partner,” he says, his medical exam, with a medical “We would do nighttime “so I knew that you could stay expert calling his waiver request mountain missions,” says perfectly healthy if you just take “perfectly reasonable.” The JAG Harrison, 42, “patrolling to spot your meds.” board in D.C. told him he was their insurgents.” Once we were taking So when he applied to advance number one choice, partly because rocket fire in the middle of the in the National Guard from an he had combat experience. DONATE TODAY lambdalegal.org/legacy | 120 Wall Street, #1900 NY, NY 10005 | 212.809.8585

WWW.LAMBDALEGAL.ORG Despite all this, his request was members based on their recent very sweet and insists that Baraq rejected—all the way up to the HIV diagnoses. sleep cuddling with her and not Undersecretary of Defense. Harrison, who currently works in me,” he laughs. The couple serve That’s why, with Lambda Legal, D.C. at a Department of Defense on several boards, including the Since the years following Stonewall, Lambda Harrison is taking the military’s agency, says he’s happy to be a D.C. Center for the LGBT Commu- Legal has been here to support our community HIV policy to court. “They should poster boy. “I’ve always wanted nity, and play in the Stonewall and advance our rights through unrelenting legal treat HIV like other conditions, to be an officer,” he says. “As a Kickball League. and advocacy work. where if a person is on treatment JAG, I’d have the opportunity to They’re also riveted to the final and able to perform all necessary take care of soldiers who slipped season of Game of Thrones. Stein We’re here is more than reassurance, it’s a decla- functions, they should be able through the cracks.” unequivocally supports the House ration. With Lambda Legal, you have the world’s to enlist, deploy and commission But he’s also doing this on of Targaryen, says Harrison, largest and most successful LGBT impact litigation as an officer,” says Lambda HIV behalf of servicemembers who whereas he likes the Lannisters. team. A team focused on the present—the here and Project Director Scott Schoettes. are far more dependent on the “Villains are interesting.” now. We’re here to represent our entire community. “The military is behind the military than he is. “I can land on Not so compelling, he says, We’re here to fight. To Win. To Stay. science.” my feet with my degrees, but your is the military’s outmoded HIV We’re here to celebrate. And so much more. The case is currently proceed- typical 21-year-old soldier with HIV policy. “We can do everything that Lambda Legal is here when you need us. To protect ing in a federal court in Virginia, may not have those advantages.” someone who is HIV-negative can your rights. To serve the underrepresented. And, alongside a similar case against Thankfully, he’s got the support do, and we have been now when joining with our supporters across the country, the Air Force in which Lambda of friends and family, not to for a long time,” he says. “There’s we’re here to pass the hors d’oeuvres. Legal secured a preliminary mention his boyfriend of two no rational basis for this, and I’m injunction preventing them years, Baraq Stein, and their fine with being the one to make Come for the fun. Give to the fight. Join us at these from kicking out two service- long-haired white cat, Yuki. “She’s that case.” n — Tim­ Murphy events as we celebrate all we’ve done together and commit to the work ahead. Lambda Legal fights every day to advance and protect the rights of all LGBTQ people and ROUND-UP everyone living with HIV. Here’s a snapshot of recent work your support made possible… May 30 Los Angeles Join us in the heart of Hollywood City of Angels that you’re part of corporate Queer Liberation March

SOCIAL SECURITY RELIEF FOR ALL OUT AT WORK for Lambda’s Annual West Coast the fight for LGBTQ+ protections that’ll recreate the route of NYC’s anti-LGBTQ curriculum, which barred the SURVIVING SAME-SEX COUPLES Also on the employment front, we sued Liberty Awards, an exquisite in the age of Trump! first-ever Pride March in 1970. positive portrayal of LGBTQ people, the In April, we filed a motion to certify North Carolina in March because of its cocktail event with a red carpet, state repealed the law. Just the initiation Michael Ely’s case (featured in the last discriminatory health care plan, which silent auction and dessert of legal action was enough to get them issue of Impact) as a class action suit, denies transition-related care to state reception. June 12 July 20 to do the right thing! meaning that it would apply to all same- employees and their dependents. Washington, DC Fire Island Pines, NY sex spouses nationwide who were wrongly FIGHTING HIV DISCRIMINATION Lambda Legal in D.C. is the event Our longest running event in the denied Social Security benefits because 50 OUT OF 50 June 6 of the year for our community, U.S., the Fire Island brunch and Lambda Legal obtained a judgment they were barred from legal marriage nine Everyone everywhere deserves the Houston supporters and those who pool party is a summer classic. for $75,000 on behalf of Nikko months before their loved ones died. right to be respected for who they are An exclusive evening of cocktails, continue to power the LGBTQ+ This is a sell-out event—get your and to have access to correct identity Briteramos, who was denied a haircut hors d’oeuvres and an opportunity and HIV movements. ticket early! RECORD SETTLEMENT FOR documents. Most recently, we sued at a Black barbershop in Los Angeles to learn about Lambda Legal LESBIAN TEACHER Tennessee to end its refusal to let because he is living with HIV. With the and its role in the ongoing fight Black AIDS Institute, Lambda has launched June 30 August 3 Lambda Legal secured an $850,000 transgender people update their birth for equality. a “Cut the Stigma” campaign to reduce New York City Dallas settlement—the largest employment certificates. The state is one of three discrimination against people living As the Big Apple marks the The Landmark Dinner, our discrimination settlement in its history— that still do so, and all three now face with HIV in Black social spaces such as June 9 50th anniversary of its Stonewall signature event in Dallas, brings for Julia Frost after five long years of Lambda Legal challenges. barbershops. The campaign will Los Angeles uprising, Lambda will march in together the LGBTQ+ community fighting for her right to be out at work VICTORY FOR ARIZONA STUDENTS tour historically Black colleges and March behind the Lambda Legal both the main Heritage of Pride with our friends, allies and and be openly supportive of LGBTQ universities (HBCUs) in the fall.  banner on Sunday and show the parade and the alternative, non- community leaders. students. In April, two weeks after Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit challenging Arizona’s For more information, tickets or to RSVP, please visit lambdalegal.org/events