Gilliam recently received the Lesbian and Gay Lawyers Association of Los Angeles’s 2012 Co-Presidents Award in recognition of his efforts and work to stop bullying, particularly against LGBTQ students. In September 2010, he launched and serves as the director of the Seth Walsh Student Rights Project, following the suicide of 13-year-old Seth Walsh of Tehachapi. Gilliam worked with Walsh’s mother to advocate against his school district after Walsh hanged himself to escape years of painful bullying and harassment he had experienced at school for being gay.
The project’s mission is to stop unlawful bullying in California schools and to create school communities that promote safety and respect for all students. Gilliam has also been an assiduous advocate of anti-bullying legislation and tolerance education in the Southern California community, leading to the passage this year of Seth’s Law.
“I remember those painful years of growing up being bullied and harassed in my home state of Tennessee just because I was gay,” said Gilliam. “No child should have to suffer humiliation or die by his own hand simply because of who he is. I’m proud to direct a project that works to protect LGBTQ students and to serve as an example that they can lead fulfilling, proud lives and not live in fear.”
Gilliam has been the deputy executive director of the ACLU/SC since 2010. Before joining the civil liberties organization, he was a litigation associate and pro bono coordinator at Paul Hastings. He served as co-chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Sexual Orientation Bias committee for several years and has served on the board of directors for the National LGBT Bar Association. He teaches seminars on sexual-orientation law and public-interest law practice at Loyola Law School.
A longtime activist for the LGBTQ community prior to attending law school, Gilliam served as the executive director of the organization in Nashville, Tennessee that produced the annual gay pride parade and celebration. He graduated first in his class from Middle Tennessee State University and cum laude from Loyola Law School.
