Kate Kendell

Career

Kendell served with NCLR beginning in 1994, when she joined the organization as its Legal Director. Two years later, she was named executive director, serving in that role until stepping down in 2018.

Kendell grew up as a Latter-day Saint in Utah. After receiving her J.D. from the University of Utah College of Law in 1988 and a few years practicing corporate law, she pursued her real love — civil rights advocacy — and became the first staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah. There she directly litigated many high-profile cases focusing on all aspects of civil liberties, including reproductive rights, prisoners' rights, free speech, the rights of LGBTQ people, and the intersection of church and state.

During her leadership, the issues facing the LGBTQ community—from homophobia in sports to immigration policy—have taken center stage in the United States' discussion of LGBTQ civil rights issues. Kendell is a nationally recognized spokesperson for LGBTQ rights and has an active voice in major media, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Advocate, NPR, CNN, and many others. Despite the national success of NCLR under her tenure, her most rewarding responsibilities still include fostering alliances on the community and organizational levels, and advocating from a grass-roots perspective on issues concerning social justice. She is also known for her inspiring and motivating keynote speeches at NCLR's annual Anniversary Celebration events and at events across the country. In July 2019 Kendell began working with the Southern Poverty Law Center as its Interim Co-Legal Director until May 2021. In June 2021 Kendell was named Chief of Staff at The California Endowment.

On April 1, 2025, Kendell was announced as the new CEO of the Gill Foundation, with a start date of May 7.

Awards

On March 23, 2010, Kendell was named a "woman who could be president" by the League of Women Voters of San Francisco at their annual "Women Who Could Be President" gala. On October 13, 2009, Kendell was named a hero of National GLBT History Month. In 2004, she was named one of California's Top 100 Attorneys and also won the Del Martin/Phyllis Lyon Marriage Equality Award at Equality California's 2004 San Francisco Equality Awards. In 2002, she won the National LGBT Bar Association's Dan Bradley Award.

References

References

1. "NCLR: The audacity to fight for justice. The perseverance to win". Nclrights.org.
2. (December 17, 2019). "National Center for Lesbian Rights Leader on Making a Movement for All". [[The Advocate (LGBT magazine).
3. (July 31, 2009). "Utah News – Salt Lake City News, Sports, Entertainment, Business – The Salt Lake Tribune". Sltrib.com.
4. "Kate Kendell and the National Center for Lesbian Rights". Lesbianlife.about.com.
5. "Kate Kendell Interview Page 2". Lesbianlife.about.com.
6. (June 7, 2005). "The Advocate – Google Books". Here.
7. (May 9, 2004). "Toward a More Perfect Union – New York Times". The New York Times.
8. Jones, Ashby. (February 8, 2010). "Prop. 8 Judge is Reportedly Gay: What to Make of That? – Law Blog – WSJ". The Wall Street Journal.
9. Weisberg, Julie. "Supreme Beings | ". The Advocate.
10. The Bryant Park Project. (May 16, 2008). "California Overturns Same-Sex Marriage Ban". NPR.
11. (October 22, 2008). "CNN.com – Transcripts". CNN.
12. link. (May 23, 2014)
13. [http://glaadblog.org/tag/kate-kendell/] {{webarchive. link. (August 4, 2011)
14. (May 21, 2011). "NCLR: get involved > 2010 anniversary celebration > home". Nclrights.org.
15. "NCLR: get involved > events". Nclrights.org.
16. (April 1, 2025). "Longtime LGBTQ+ advocate Kate Kendell is the new CEO of the Gill Foundation (exclusive)". [[The Advocate (magazine).
17. (March 24, 2010). "Women Who Could Be President | San Francisco Luxury Living". Sfluxe.com.
18. "Kate Kendell | LGBTHistoryMonth.com". Glbthistorymonth.com.
19. "NCLR: press center > 2004 > press release". Nclrights.org.
20. "Equal Marriage For Same-Sex Couples | Advocacy News | 2004 San Francisco Equality Awards". Samesexmarriage.ca.
21. (September 8, 2011). "Dan Bradley Award Winners". Lgbtbar.