Minnesota State Bar Association names first openly gay president

OutFront Minnesota’s legal director will become the first openly gay president of the state’s bar association next week.

Phil Duran takes over at the Minnesota State Bar Association July 1 for a one-year term.

Duran was elected MSBA secretary in June 2010. He was a founding board member and co-chair of the Minnesota Lavender Bar Association, an organization for LGBT attorneys, law students and judges.

Duran began work at OutFront Minnesota, an advocacy group for LGBT Minnesotans, in 2000. Since 2010, he has also worked for MAP for Nonprofits.

By Doug Belden | Pioneer Press