Philadelphia Bar Assoc. Elects Gay Chair

December 7, 2004

Telling his colleagues that thriving cities are filled with striving newcomers, incoming Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Andrew A. Chirls today called for added opportunities for immigrants and minorities who strive to succeed and still see our great city as the cradle of liberty.

Chirls, who will officially take the helm of the 13,000-member Association on January 1 is the first openly gay elected leader of any major bar association in the United States.

Referring to his history-making status Chirls said it represented continuing social change and he promised to work for even greater inclusion for all those who feel they are left out simply because they are different.

He also spoke about his personal experiences in reaching out to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth at a local support center for teenagers. Trust me, Chirls told his colleagues, you don't know the troubles these kids have seen just because they are different.

But Chirls said he hoped that his Chancellorship will send a message to those who feel they may have no future. The message is: 'You have a place in our society...even if you are different. You, too, can be part of things, even if you are different; and maybe you can even lead it, even if you are different.

Chirls, a Center City resident and a partner with the Philadelphia law firm of Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen noted that from 1980 till 2000 the country's population grew, but this city lost 10 percent of its population.