Fordham Law School’s OUTLaws affinity group offers a supportive community, resources, and networking opportunities for LGBTQIA+ law students and allies. For this year’s Pride Month, OUTLaws Co-Presidents Ellie Singer and Jessie Lopez-Gray spoke about the importance of reflecting on past and present advocacy for the queer community and why celebration is key to progress.
Why is it important to have OUTLaws at Fordham Law School?
LGBTQIA+ law students deserve a strong, visible, and supportive community. OUTLaws provides a space that fosters belonging. This isn’t just a social group—it’s a bridge that connects students with the legal community and helps them navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with being queer in this field, all with lots of joy, pride, and solidarity. By providing a space where students can thrive as their true selves, and by advocating for our community, OUTLaws aligns with our school’s motto: “In the Service of Others.”
What do you enjoy most about being a part of OUTLaws and why?
Without a doubt, what many of us enjoy about being a part of OUTLaws is contributing to that sense of community and belonging. Law school, especially the first year, can be intense and isolating for anyone. For many queer students, that isolation can feel even more intense. OUTLaws is that place where many of us can feel seen and supported, with zero judgments. It’s a meaningful experience to listen to and uplift one another, and many of us are grateful to call our OUTLaws community our closest friends.
OUTLaws members at an Inter-school Mixer.
Looking back, what’s one OUTLaws event that exemplifies the group’s mission and energy?
We host an amazing symposium every year, and this year’s event was a great success. Our panels focused on the effects of federal, state, and local elections on the LGBTQ+ community and how we all can get involved. We are proud we had over 100+ attendees come in person and virtually. We are also happy that many of our members get involved with the name change events organized by our friends in the Advocates for Trans* Law Students (ATLS) group. Supporting our trans siblings is critical to us, and we’re always eager to support ATLS’s excellent work.
How does OUTLaws support LGBTQIA+ law students’ professional development and networking opportunities?
We offer a range of events that allow our members to learn about professional development opportunities and to interact with potential employers, including career and job search panels co-hosted with other affinity groups, “Lunch and Learns,” and fun events with firms.
Why is it important to celebrate Pride Month?
When we celebrate Pride Month, we’re honoring the resilience and contributions of our community, both past and present. We truly do stand on the shoulders of giants. With roots in protest and advocacy, Pride Month commemorates the Stonewall uprising, when those who came before us said “enough.”
All the progress we’ve made and the rights we have today were not freely given, they were fought for. But there’s still work to be done. In a world where our community still faces discrimination and rejection, celebrating Pride Month is a way to affirm that queer people matter and deserve to be celebrated.
How can students get involved with OUTLaws?
We welcome students to participate in OUTLaws in whatever capacity feels right to them! We have a number of opportunities across a range of commitment levels. Students are welcome to be involved more casually and come to general body meetings and social events or commit to a deeper level of involvement by applying to be 1L reps or getting involved with the board or committees. We’re thrilled to have any students involved however it feels right to them.
Students should follow our Instagram, @fordham.outlaws, where we will post updates about the group and advertise events. Please also reach out to us to be added to our newsletter for more formal weekly updates or join our GroupMe, where members share events, talk classes, or just chat.
