Before I begin, let me first pay homage to Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s indelible legacy of equality in federal and state law books. Her passing on Sept. 18, 2020, gives the legal community and, indeed, society a poignant moment to reflect on her courage and strategic vision as attorney, judge and Supreme Court Justice. RBG blazed a trail in gender equality and LGBTQ rights, among many other significant advances in individual liberties and freedom.

Justice Ginsburg was a leading architect of the modern legal battle for LGBTQ rights. Since her appointment and confirmation to the United States Supreme Court in 1993, she was a moral compass on the Court and provided a critical voice for fairness and justice, often as the single vote that barely favored LGBTQ civil rights, equality and dignity in the balance.