The gift will establish the position of David Sanders Distinguished Scholar and provide support in perpetuity for the Dukeminier Awards Journal which recognises the best sexual orientation and gender identity legal scholarship published each year. Jesse Dukeminier, for whom the journal and UCLA Law's Jesse Dukeminier Chair are named, was a professor at the school for more than 40 years before her death in 2003 as well as Sanders’ longtime partner. A former lecturer and associate clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA, Mr Sanders has held several positions at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Support research and scholarship

The gift also will support research and scholarship on civil rights, LGBT rights, women's rights, and diversity - possibly in the form of a new endowed new chair or scholar position - in honor of the late Los Angeles County Municipal Court judge and UCLA Law alumnus Rand Schrader. A pioneering civil rights activist and one of the first openly gay judges in California, Mr Schrader dedicated his career to increasing diversity on the bench and  supporting public policies that affect the LGBT community, women, and people with HIV/AIDS.

Inaugural award

Brad Sears, founding Executive Director of UCLA Law's Williams Institute for Sexual Orientation and Gender Indentity Law and Public Policy has been named the inaugural David Sanders Distinguished Scholar. Additional support for the David Sanders Distinguished Scholar position came from Williams Institute founder Chuck Williams.

'Profound impact'

‘UCLA School of Law has had a profound impact on legal scholarship and advocacy, particularly in areas of importance to Jesse, Rand and myself,’ said Sanders. ‘I am pleased to support this effort and ensure that it continues and grows even more robust in the years and decades to come.’