Gros Louis and Tuchman to be honored during IU GLBT Alumni Association Celebration Weekend

Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White to speak at second annual Pride Night

  • Jan. 16, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- A beloved Indiana University leader and a steadfast legal advocate for the GLBT community will be honored by IU during its annual Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Alumni Association Celebration Weekend on Jan. 30 to Feb. 1.

For the seventh year in a row, the special alumni weekend will coincide with the Bloomington PRIDE Film Festival. It will also celebrate the recent 20th anniversary of IU’s GLBT Student Support Services Office and the association's unique scholarship campaign.

In addition to the film festival, weekend highlights include a social on Friday, Jan. 30, at IU's Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, 275 N. Jordan Ave.; a reception and silent auction Saturday, Jan. 31, at Grazie Italian Eatery, 106 W. Sixth St.; and bagels and coffee Sunday, Feb. 1, at the GLBT Student Support Services Office, 705 E. Seventh St.

Kenneth R.R. Gros Louis, university chancellor emeritus, and Steven L. Tuchman, an attorney with Lewis & Kappes P.C. in Indianapolis, will receive the GLBTAA Distinguished Alumni Award during the Friday night social.

Everyone also is welcome to attend the GLBTAA annual board meeting from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 31 at the Virgil T. DeVault Alumni Center, 1000 E. 17th St.

Earlier in the week, the IU GLBT Alumni Association also will host the second annual Pride Night at the IU women's basketball game against the University of Maryland on Sunday, Jan. 25. Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White will be the guest speaker at the event, beginning at 1 p.m. at Cook Hall, adjacent to Assembly Hall.

Cost for Pride Night is $15, which includes a pre-game reception, boxed lunch and game ticket. Online registrations will be accepted until Jan. 21. For more information, contact Cindy Stone at stonec@indiana.edu or Jonathan Benedek at jbenedek@indiana.edu.

A special men's and women's Quarryland Chorus will present the national anthem, and the men's chorus will perform at halftime of the game.

GLBTAA Distinguished Alumni Award winners

As vice president and chancellor for the Bloomington campus, Gros Louis' principled and humane vision, as well as strategic savvy, were responsible for the establishment of the Office of GLBT Student Support Services in 1994. His support also was crucial to IU’s adoption of domestic partner benefits in 2001. As an administrator as well as in retirement, he has been a powerful ally of the GLBT community and a mentor to many students.

Tuchman, who received a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1968 at IU Bloomington and a law degree from the IU McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis in 1971, has had an exemplary legal career, earning prominence in his immigration practice. He has chaired the international practice of both the Indianapolis and Indiana bar associations and is the only immigration lawyer in Indiana to be designated as an "Indiana Super Lawyer" and one of the "Best Lawyers in America." He has been with Lewis & Kappes since 1990.

Tuchman has written and lectured widely on immigration and nationality law. He speaks Danish as a second language and serves as the Honorary Consul for Denmark in Indiana and Kentucky. In 2011, he was knighted by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. His contributions to the LGBT community include serving as co-trustee of the Tuchman Bobrick Trust, a private foundation that supports many LGBT projects and organizations, including Lambda Legal and the Point Foundation. He also is active in the Indianapolis arts community and engaged with IU.

"The GLBTAA remains one of our most active alumni groups, and this is an event that many look forward to every year," said J T. Forbes, executive director and CEO of the IU Alumni Association. "The group works to engage alumni from all eight IU campuses, to connect them with one another and back to their university. Our GLBT alumni truly make this a fabulous weekend, for all parts of the IU community."

“I'm always grateful to see the number of alumni and friends from across the nation who join us for this special weekend in Bloomington," said Steve Bretthauer, president of the GLBT Alumni Association. "It's a wonderful opportunity to see old friends, make new ones, share stories and see what the IU Alumni Association is doing. This year, we are honored to award this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award to two outstanding individuals and celebrate the 20th anniversary of the GLBT Student Center. We look forward to seeing everyone and celebrating their tremendous support of the IU GLBTAA, Indiana University and the LGBT community.”

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Alumni Association Celebration Weekend events range in price from free to $20. Purchase tickets or register for events online or by contacting alumni relations officer Clarence Boone at boonec@indiana.edu or 800-824-3044. 

The GLBT Alumni Association is an affiliate group of the IU Alumni Association. The IU Alumni Association is dedicated to bringing IU alumni, students and friends together to serve one another and IU. As one of the nation's largest alumni organizations, with more than 580,000 graduates worldwide, the IUAA provides many programs and services to its members, nonmember alumni and the university.

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Kenneth Gros Louis, seen here in 2001 with a sculpture of mentor Herman B Wells, served IU for 45 years, including 25 years as chancellor.

Kenneth Gros Louis, seen here in 2001 with a sculpture of mentor Herman B Wells, served IU for 45 years, including 25 years as chancellor.

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Steven Tuchman

Steven Tuchman

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Stephanie White and her family

Stephanie White and her family

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Media Contacts

Clarence Boone

  • IU Alumni Association
  • Office 800-824-3044
  • boonec@indiana.edu