Dear Association Members:

On May 12, 2017, I graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law. I sincerely thank the Gay and Lesbian Business Association for believing in me and my dream of attending law school and your continued support while I study for the California Bar Exam.

The California Bar Exam is notorious for being the most difficult of its kind in the nation and a daunting undertaking for those motivated to join the profession to fight for justice. Unfortunately, this last decade has seen a dramatic decrease in the passage rate and admission to the profession. This trend is especially alarming today – when powerful actors subscribing to the notion that justice is a privilege for the few, rather than a right of the people, lay siege to dismantle basic fundamental rights like equality and civil rights.

You have provided me with indispensable economic and emotional support during this time. As you know, I am a firstgeneration Mexican immigrant from a working-class family in Santa Maria, California. I have witnessed discrimination due to my national origin, my queer identity and my social class in my pursuit of my own American dream. Accordingly, the detrimental political and social changes we are all witnessing are hardly novel to me. Nevertheless, I have been able to overcome numerous social barriers thanks to the understanding and kindness of people like the Gay and Lesbian Business Association.

I have used your generous additional financial assistance to pay for the California Bar Registration fee, Moral Character Determination fee, Fingerprint fee, Kaplan Bar Preparation course fee, Petition to Request Accommodations Medical Exam, the State Bar of California Exam fee, and the Laptop fee. I would not have been able to accomplish all of this without you.

I am particularly grateful to you because your assistance allowed me to retain testing accommodations for the bar exam. I have long suffered from an undiagnosed mental disability since childhood. My condition went unnoticed until I was an adult because I was able to succeeded academically. When I petitioned the State Bar of California they denied my petition for accommodations because I could not produce a history of failing or bad grades. However, I was able to successfully appeal that decision thanks to the psychological consultation you helped me afford. I cannot express how grateful I am for your assistance because you secured an equal playing field.

This has been the most challenging and momentous moment of my life. You have all been there for me, believed in me throughout and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Sincerely,

ALEJANDRO GASTÉLUM Juris Doctor, University of California Hastings College of the Law

ALEJANDRO GASTÉLUM, Juris Doctor, University of California Hastings College of the Law

ALEJANDRO GASTÉLUM, Juris Doctor, University of California Hastings College of the Law

ALEJANDRO GASTÉLUM, Juris Doctor, University of California Hastings College of the Law

ALEJANDRO GASTÉLUM, Juris Doctor, University of California Hastings College of the Law