Garrett Gunner Swope Awarded The Lavender Equality Fellowship


June 24, 2022

Gunner Swope

The 2022 Lavender Equality Fellowship was awarded to Garrett Gunner Swope, 3L. The LGBT Bar Association of D.C. selected him based on his work in law school to advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community as a leader of GW Law’s Lambda Law chapter; his prior work on suicide prevention programs; and his committement to fostering inclusivity, visibility, and representation in the legal profession. 

Hear more from Gunner Swope about this fellowship and his experiences at GW Law:


1. Tell us about why you chose GW Law.

I chose GW Law because I knew that I would have year-long access to opportunities that simply could not be replicated elsewhere. So many schools advertise study abroad programs in D.C. just to get a flicker of what it means to participate in our political climate. Meanwhile, GW Law sits quietly next to the giants of geopolitics—the World Bank, the IMF, the White House and its countless agencies that dictate the affairs of the United States. Moreover, the school’s focus areas in subject matters like government procurement, energy and environmental law, business and finance law, and IP law make the reputation of GW what it is: uniquely unparalleled — geographically and substantively. As a recent graduate of geography and environmental studies, a researcher, and a prospective law student, I found this nexus of opportunities that GW Law offers attractive and have not looked back since.

2. Is there a class or experience at GW Law that has had a significant impact on you or helped shape your path for the future?

Interacting with students from such diverse backgrounds made me realize the importance of intersectionality in the legal community. How will rent, utilities, and books be paid for? How much was sacrificed to achieve admittance to law school? In what ways does the family structure of a prospective student’s household affect our law community’s sex, race, and ethnic composition? How does trauma influence a lawyer’s behavior? Acknowledgment of systemic issues of intersectionality allowed me to not only recognize but capitalize on opportunities presented to me at GW Law. Our own personal histories can forever be our swords, and there are no sharper blades than those wielded beside me on campus. We are stronger together, and our relationships with others can be meaningful support systems for success when we begin to practice as attorneys.

3. As a leader of the Lambda Law chapter you have been an advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community in the law school. Can you tell us more about the work you are doing with Lambda Law?

As Social Chair of the 2021-22 Lambda Law Executive Board, I and other members of the board fostered an inclusive and welcoming environment for the LGBTQIA+ community on GW Law’s campus. Whether our students were meeting at a park for socializing, having a drag brunch to commemorate our graduates, or throwing a rapid-response solidarity event to counter the hateful rhetoric of some speakers on campus, Lambda ensured that comradery mattered most. As Social Chair, it was my responsibility to instill this sense of community among our members. Individuals in our community will always need a place to congregate, and I believe Lambda plays an instrumental part in actualizing this desire as not just an affinity group for many but as an invitation for fellowship and memories.

4. How do you think the Lavender Equality Fellowship will help you on your career path? 

Becoming a Lavender Equality Fellow encourages me to continue to fight for justice amongst rampant injustice, to champion increased representation when none exists, and to fight to end stigmas about members of our community. This encourages me to fight with the reaffirmed belief that it can make a difference. Thank you to the D.C. LGBT Bar Association for their commitment to these efforts.

5. If you could give one piece of advice to incoming 1L students, particularly members of the LGBTQIA+ community, what would you say to them? 

To the many well-deserving 1Ls who find themselves needing a place to exist, particularly those in the LGBTQIA+ community, I urge you to participate in Lambda Law. It was through Lambda Law that I was able to apply and ultimately receive the 2022 Lavender Equality Fellowship by the D.C. LGBT Bar Association. It was also through Lambda that I met and learned from individuals I otherwise would not have been able to interact with in law school. More broadly, I urge each of you to find solid ground. For me, my peers in law school tethered me to the earth when nothing else seemed to. Find those anchors for you, whether through comradery with like-minded peers or through shared experiences supporting our community—both of which Lambda Law provides. More than anything, stay happy, stay healthy, and stay strong.