, professor of law at the , recently learned just how impactful sharing your own personal story can be.
Suzette Malveaux, left, and Catherine Smith, right, in front of the Denver skyline
Suzette Malveaux (center)听with various Colorado Law students and faculty
Earlier this year, Malveaux and her partner, Catherine Smith鈥攑rofessor of law at University of Denver鈥攕hared their journey as a 鈥渓egal power couple鈥� on . They opened up not only about their work in civil rights and social justice听but also about their personal lives鈥攈ow they met, life鈥檚 challenges and the lessons they鈥檝e each learned along the way.
鈥淭ruth be told, we were both worried that no one would be interested, that it would be too boring,鈥� Malveaux, who also directs Colorado Law鈥檚 Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law, joked. 鈥淚t was the first time we鈥檇 ever done anything like this, and we didn鈥檛 really know if it would resonate with people.鈥�
But it did.
On Sept. 18, Malveaux and Smith accepted the Gerald A. Gerash Advocacy Award presented by at the center鈥檚 45th anniversary gala. The award honors those who demonstrate a history of advocacy for the LGBTQ community.
鈥淪hortly after our interview with CPR, the center reached out to us to share how this had impacted and inspired young LGBTQ youth across the state,鈥� Malveaux said. 鈥淚t was a great reminder of the importance of giving voice to our lived experiences.鈥�
Advocacy, support and community are central components of The Center听and of co-founder Gerald 鈥淛erry鈥� Gerash鈥檚 work. Gerash made a name for himself when he led a protest against the treatment of and discrimination against Denver鈥檚 gay community in 1973 that led the city to become the first in the nation to repeal anti-gay criminal laws. He helped establish the center in 1976, which is now the largest LGBTQ community center in the Rocky Mountain region.
As a civil rights attorney, Malveaux has spent much of her professional life serving as a voice for those who were struggling to find one. She represented victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and represented more than 1.5 million women in Wal-Mart vs. Dukes, the largest employment discrimination class action lawsuit in the United States. Smith听also has a prolific civil rights and scholarly background, particularly in cases involving same sex marriage, children鈥檚 rights and environmental justice.
Together the couple has used their experience and expertise to educate and inform future generations of civil rights lawyers.听
鈥淛ust telling your story and leaning into your truth can really help others,鈥� Malveaux said.
Students, colleagues and administrators from both universities attended the gala to celebrate Malveaux and Smith鈥檚 honor.
鈥淲e are immensely proud of Professor Malveaux for winning the Gerald A. Gerash Advocacy Award, and we could not be happier that she received this honor,鈥� Colorado Law Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss said. 鈥淗er dedication and commitment to others, along with her scholarly and other professional achievements, make her one of the shining lights of Colorado Law, of the state and of our nation.鈥�
