Mary Bonauto, civil rights project director for the New England-wide Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders since 1990, has worked on nearly every facet of the legal movement for equality under law for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender individuals. Best known for her work on marriage and the Defense of Marriage Act, she served as lead counsel on the 2003 landmark case Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health, which legalized same-sex marriages in Massachusetts.
The Stonewall Award recognizes contributions by the recipients thereof to the advancement of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals in the legal profession, and/or to LGBT legal issues, to be awarded by the ABA Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.
Established by the ABA in 2007, SOGI Commission the works to secure for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons full and equal participation in the ABA, the legal profession and the justice system.