About HLS Lambda

Lambda is the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) student organization at Harvard Law School. Lambda sponsors speakers and discussions, works with community legal and political rights groups, and serves as a personal support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students.In past years, a large part of our efforts were aimed at institutional policies. In 1979, COGLLI, Lambda’s predecessor organization, spearheaded a successful drive to have the Law School adopt an across-the-board policy of non-discrimination with regard to sexual orientation. This policy covers admissions, hiring, placement, and housing.

Lambda’s energy has also been devoted to sensitizing and educating the Law School community on issues of concern to gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender individuals. We have organized speakers and discussions around a host of topics: the experience of being an out lawyer, gay parenting (both biological and adoptive), immigration restrictions, issues affecting queer youth, and public health and employment discrimination issues related to AIDS and HIV testing. In 1994, Lambda co-hosted a national symposium celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. In 2004, Lambda hosted a LGBT Alumni Reunion celebrating the 25th year of our organization. Recent efforts have focused on the Solomon Amendment, which has forced Harvard to disregard its own anti-discrimination policy and allow the U.S. military to recruit on campus, despite its anti-gay “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Lambda also plans social events for LGBT students at Harvard Law and beyond. Regular social activities include movie nights, dinner parties, happy hours, bowling trips, etc., as well as weekend retreats in Provincetown. Lambda additionally plans and hosts the annual “OUTLAW Dance,” one of the largest on-campus parties at HLS, drawing students and community members from throughout the Boston area.

For more information, or to join our organization, contact us.

To learn more about our organization’s leadership, please visit: Executive Board