“I always knew I would be either an attorney or a therapist; I think I am a little of both,” says Yetta G. Kurland, a well-known NYC-based civil rights attorney and LGBTQ advocate. “When I was a kid, I would always stand up to bullies. That just kind of evolved into what I do now.” Kurland has long been a leader in our community. In the fight for legal recognition, she acted as counsel to Marriage Equality and represented service members who overturned the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy. Kurland has built bridges between the LGBTQ community and advocates on range of social justice issues—from community healthcare to housing and beyond. In addition to founding Hello World Language Center, she’s taught for several years as an adjunct professor. Currently, she’s the Senior Partner at The Kurland Group, a public interest private practice law firm that services both LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ clients. “I get to work with an incredible team of talented attorneys and legal workers to create social change, represent my community and help empower people,” she says. The firm’s recent successes include settling a suit against the city, allowing recognition of proper gender markers on public records. Kurland lives in Chelsea with her partner, Molly, and their two Italian Greyhounds. –SLO
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