ADL to Honor Groundbreaking Advocate for Marriage Equality Mary Bonauto

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) will honor Mary Bonauto, groundbreaking advocate for marriage equality and LGBT rights, with ADL’s Centennial Torch of Liberty Award on Thursday June 6, 2013.  The well-deserved award will be presented at a dinner commencing at 6 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston. U.S. Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III will be on hand to present the ADL Torch of Liberty to Mary. Former federal judge Nancy Gertner will deliver the keynote address, and WCVB TV’s Randy Price, co-anchor of the popular early morning “EyeOpener” newscast, will MC the event.

One of the leading advocates for LGBT rights in the United States, Mary has played an historic role in securing marriage equality in this country. Mary was lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the seminal case of Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, resulting in the landmark decision of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court holding that prohibiting civil marriage for same-sex couples is unconstitutional. Mary has played a central role in the Windsor case challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act now pending before the United States Supreme Court. 

"When I started at GLAD in 1990, not all civil rights and justice organizations embraced equality for gay people.  But ADL was already at the table and doing the work, both on hate crimes and anti-discrimination protections in the workplace and in schools.  I am honored to be this year's recipient of the ADL's Torch of Liberty Award where both GLAD and ADL are so committed to pursuing equal justice under law,” said Mary Bonauto.

In her capacity as Civil Rights Project Director of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, Mary has been a powerful force for the civil rights not only of members of the LGBT community, but of all Americans. In that regard, her life’s work has been, and remains, at the heart of the work of the ADL, whose mission is to combat discrimination and to secure justice and fair treatment for all.

“For 100 years the pursuit of equal rights and freedom from discrimination has been at the heart of ADL’s mission and we are proud to be working alongside Mary, whose tireless efforts have impacted the lives of millions of Americans. We are honored to present her with the Torch of Liberty Award,” said Robert Trestan, ADL New England Acting Regional Director.

For event tickets or more information please contact Barbara Gold, Director of Development, at (617) 406-6353, or at bgold@adl.org