Michael Adams (lawyer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Adams
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 1961 |
| Education | Harvard University (BA)
Stanford University (MA in Latin American Studies) Stanford Law School (JD) |
| Occupation | U.S. Attorney and LGBT+ Civil Rights Activist |
| Title | CEO of SAGE (Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders) (since 2006) |
| Spouse(s) |
Frederick A. Davie
(m. 2004) |
| Relatives | Patricia Tradd (mother)
Ronald Tradd (stepfather, d. April 2020) Paul Adams (father) Sally Adams (stepmother) |
Michael Adams, born in 1961, is a lawyer and a champion for LGBT+ civil rights in the United States. Since 2006, he has been the chief executive officer of Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) in New York City. SAGE is an organization that helps older LGBT+ adults.
Early Life and Education
Michael Adams grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts. He went to Harvard University and earned a bachelor's degree in government in 1984. He graduated with high honors. During his time at Harvard, he became very involved in human rights issues. He worked on campaigns to support human rights in Latin America. He also spoke out against certain United States policies in Central America at that time.
While at Harvard, Adams supported his professor, Terry Karl, during a difficult workplace situation. Harvard later apologized to Professor Karl in 2021. Adams's support for his professor led to some challenges for him from the university department.
After Harvard, Adams continued his education at Stanford University. He earned a master's degree in Latin American studies. He also received a law degree from Stanford Law School in 1990.
In 2004, Adams married Frederick A. Davie. They had been partners since 1998. Frederick Davie is a minister and works at Union Theological Seminary. He also served on President Barack Obama's team and was appointed to a White House council. Today, he leads the Civilian Complaint Review Board, which oversees the New York City Police Department.
Career as a Lawyer
Michael Adams started his law career working at a firm in San Francisco. Later, he joined the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). There, he worked as a staff attorney and then became the director for their projects focused on lesbian, gay, and AIDS rights.
In 2001, he became the deputy legal director at Lambda Legal. A big part of his work as a lawyer involved fighting for the rights of LGBTQ+ people and their families. He also worked on cases to help victims of Nazi persecution.
Adams worked on several important cases that helped end laws that made same-sex relationships illegal in different places. He also argued cases in states like Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia. These cases helped same-sex couples gain legal recognition for their families, including rights for custody and adoption.
In 2002, Adams became Lambda Legal's Director of Education and Public Affairs. In this role, he was in charge of national public relations and programs to teach communities about LGBT+ rights. He also taught as a professor at the UC Berkeley School of Law. He worked as a consultant for the Ford Foundation in Brazil, helping to decide where to give grants.
Leading SAGE
In 2006, Michael Adams became the chief executive officer of SAGE. SAGE is a non-profit organization that started in 1978. It helps older LGBT+ adults by providing support, services, and information. SAGE focuses on advocating for laws that help LGBT+ adults grow older with respect and dignity.
Since 2014, SAGE has been working to make sure that its programs and the organization itself are fair for people of all races. This is part of their long-term goal to promote racial fairness and fight against racial inequality.
SAGE also trains healthcare workers and nursing home staff to better understand and care for LGBT+ people. They offer a SAGECare credential for this training. Working with the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, SAGE also helps create a Long-Term Care Equality Index. This index measures how well long-term care homes treat LGBT+ people fairly and inclusively.
SAGE has many programs to help older LGBT+ adults. These include a national center for LGBT+ aging resources, a network for long-term HIV/AIDS survivors, an emergency hotline, and a national housing program.
Advocacy Work
A major part of Michael Adams's work is focusing on how different parts of a person's identity, like race and sexual orientation, connect. SAGE helped create the Diverse Elders Coalition. This group includes six national organizations that work together to support older people from different backgrounds. This includes people of various races and ethnicities, older American Indians and Alaska Natives, and LGBT+ elders.
Adams believes this focus is important because these groups share common issues. Working together helps them achieve more. Also, as the population of older Americans changes, more people are part of these diverse groups, making them a growing part of SAGE's community.
Adams is also active in international issues. In 2017, he spoke to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. He is now part of a group that works with LGBT+ elders in Latin America. SAGE has partnered with organizations in Latin America and Asia to get funding for cross-cultural advocacy, services, and research. This international focus is partly shaped by Adams's past studies in Latin American history and culture.
Honors and Awards
Michael Adams is the board chair of the American Society on Aging. In 2019, he received the Change Agent Award from the National Council on Aging. In 2016, PBS's Next Avenue named him an "Influencer in Aging." OUT Magazine has twice named Adams one of the "100 most influential LGBT leaders." He has also served as the vice president of the board of directors for LiveOn New York. He has been on advisory councils for AARP and the New York City Department for the Aging.
