Thomas has been a pioneer and an agent of change for his entire career. Here are just a few of his notable accomplishments:
Accomplishments of Note
Chapman University School of Law
☀︎ Founding class of Chapman University School of Law
☀︎ Established an LGBT Student group
☀︎ Founded the Nexus Law Journal (Vice-Chair and Contributing Editor)
☀︎ Edited the ABA Accreditation Self-Study
☀︎ Helped write the Student Code of Conduct and Student Government Charter
☀︎ Edited the Student Handbook
☀︎ Established non-discrimination policies for Sexual Orientation and Gender identity
☀︎ In 2011 Named one of the “Faces of Chapman” 150 people most influential in the 150 year history of the university
City of New Orleans
♦︎ First openly gay prosecutor in Traffic and Municipal Courts
♦︎ Only City Attorney working for 3 weeks during and after Hurricane Katrina:
☀︎ Ensured the Declaration of Emergency & evacuation was prepared 3 days before the storm
☀︎ Established a temporary City Attorney’s Office in LSU Law School
☀︎ Pre-empted the Declaration of Marshal Law
☀︎ Stopped the city from raiding the Retirement System Trust Fund
☀︎ Helped Coordinate the re-establishment of the Courts in Orleans
☀︎ Helped coordinate the re-configuration of voting locations
☀︎ Defended the City in federal court by phone
♦︎ Twice successfully defended the City of New Orleans Domestic Partnership Registry and benefits
♦︎ Helped establish parity for Same-Sex couples in Domestic Violence cases
♦︎ 10 years as attorney for the Vieux Carré Commission, City Retirement Board, Historic Districts Landmarks Commission, City Council, Board of Zoning Adjustments, Finance department
ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
♦︎ First openly gay elected official in Louisiana - Orleans Parish School Board: Vice President, 2011; President, 2012
♦︎ Led efforts to improve anti-bullying legislation in the state and policies in Orleans Parish Schools and other districts statewide
♦︎ Created the Disadvantaged Business Program program for OPSB
♦︎ Successfully led efforts to include LGBT businesses in DBE program for OPSB
♦︎ Successfully led efforts to include and improve LGBT protections from discrimination for OPSB students, teachers and staff
♦︎ Successfully led efforts to ban creationism in science classes and to ban revisionist history books
PERSONAL
♦︎ Long-time ally of the Forum for Equality and NO AIDS Task Force
♦︎ 4 years as Board Member of Forum for Equality
♦︎ Worked to promote pro-LGBT candidates for office – local and state wide
♦︎ Worked to promote judicial candidates to improve judicial function and efficiency, and to promote justice and equity under the law.
♦︎ Advocate for LGBT adoption and marriage equality
♦︎ Working to re-establish LGBT voting power in New Orleans
♦︎ Advocated for education and LGBT rights in the Legislature
♦︎ Successfully worked to ban creationism in science classes in Orleans Parish
♦︎ Tireless advocate in the Legislature and locally for LGBT+ issues, including the HIV community
♦︎ Teri Estrada Memorial Award for public service – AIDSLaw of Louisiana 2013
♦︎ Declarations of Commendation from 2 mayors and 3 separate City Councils.
