LGBTQ Notary Association

Why should I become a member of LGBTQ Notary Association?

Important Notice: Before applying for membership with the LGBTQ Notary Association, it is paramount and essential that you read this article in its entirety. Understanding the ethos, requirements, and the commitment involved in being a part of our association is crucial for every prospective member.

Although this is the LGBTQ Notary Association, we welcome our heterosexual and cisgender allies to join! Our goal is to be as inclusive as possible, so that we can bring together all of the people who are LGBTQ friendly to one place, no matter who you love, how you identify, and or how, or where you were born.

All members of the LGBTQ Notary Association are dedicated to serving without any form of hate in their hearts for the people they serve. This commitment is crucial to our ethos. To ensure alignment with our values, it is important to thoroughly understand and internalize what constitutes harboring hate towards those we serve. Please reflect deeply to confirm that your mindset and actions are in harmony with this fundamental pledge:

In the realm of notarization, particularly within the LGBTQ Notary Association, the cornerstone of our service is the unwavering commitment to impartiality, respect, and dignity for all individuals. As notaries, our role as impartial witnesses is sacrosanct. We must understand that harboring hate in our hearts for the people we serve is not only professionally unacceptable but also fundamentally at odds with the principles of a secular nation. This commitment extends beyond professional decorum; it is a fundamental ethical principle in a society that values secularism and equality before the law.

Hate manifests in many ways, often subtle yet deeply harmful. In our service to the LGBTQ community, this includes behaviors and beliefs that directly harm Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Gender Non-Binary, and Intersex individuals. A crucial aspect of this is recognizing that personal religious beliefs, while respected in a secular nation, can never justify or excuse any form of discrimination against the LGBTQ community. Our duty as notaries is to uphold the secular principle of impartiality, ensuring that personal beliefs do not cloud our professional responsibilities.

Misusing religion to deny proper respect, such as refusing to use correct pronouns for someone who is gender or sex diverse, is a profound act of disrespect and hate. This is not a mere difference in belief but a conscious choice to invalidate an individual's identity, something that has no place in our Association or in a secular society that upholds impartiality as a core value.

Challenging the rights of gender or sex diverse individuals to use public restrooms that match their gender identity, under the guise of religious conviction, is a form of exclusion and prejudice. It is a clear indicator of deep-rooted bias and hate, and it runs counter to the secular and impartial ethos we are bound to as notaries.

The belief, often justified by religious views, that gay and lesbian individuals should not have the right to form families, is a denial of fundamental human rights. It is an expression of hate, seeking to undermine the basic human desire for love and family. In a secular nation, such beliefs have no place in dictating the professional conduct of notaries, who are duty-bound to serve without prejudice or bias.

Additionally, advocating for the banning of LGBTQ-related materials, especially on religious grounds, is an act of censorship and erasure. It is an attempt to suppress understanding, acceptance, and visibility of the LGBTQ community, reflecting underlying prejudice and hate. This goes against the grain of a secular nation, where freedom of thought and expression are paramount.

An additional manifestation of hate and discrimination in our society is the exclusion of gender and sex diverse individuals from participating in sports. This form of exclusion is not just a matter of differing opinions but a clear act of prejudice. It denies individuals the right to engage in athletic activities and competitions that align with their gender identity. Such exclusion is based on unfounded fears and stereotypes and stands in stark contrast to the values of equality, respect, and inclusivity upheld in a secular society. Within the LGBTQ Notary Association, we advocate for the rights of all individuals to participate in sports, free from discrimination and bias.

These examples, among others, highlight that any form of discrimination, particularly when justified by religious beliefs, against the LGBTQ community is inexcusable. It contradicts the core values of the LGBTQ Notary Association, as well as the fundamental nature of being an impartial witness. Our Association stands as a beacon of impartiality, respect, acceptance, and equality. Members who use religion as a pretext for harboring and expressing hate against the community we serve disqualify themselves from our mission and ignore the fundamental secular principle of impartiality that is central to our role as notaries.

Our duty as notaries is to serve all individuals equally, without bias, judgment, or hate. This is the foundation of our Association, not to mention the foundation of being an impartial witness; furthermore, the standard should always be upheld. Using religion as an excuse to deviate from these principles is not only legally untenable but also morally indefensible in a secular nation. Clients of notaries deserve to be served by individuals who uphold these values and are free of hate. It is a notary's duty to provide impartial service, a reflection of the secular and inclusive values that define our society and our profession.

When you join the LGBTQ Notary Association and have your name listed in our directory, you're making a pledge to serve and uplift a marginalized community. This is not a commercial endeavor, but a mission of community service. The membership fee of $6.71 per month is a contribution towards sustaining this cause, not a transaction for personal gain. The statistical representation of about 7.2% of U.S. adults identifying as LGBTQ, and an estimated 3% to 9% of the global population doing so, provides a perspective on the volume of inquiries you might receive through our directory. Our association is built on the ethos of service, community support, and fostering a warm, inclusive environment for all individuals, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Your membership symbolizes a meaningful commitment to this cause.

The true essence of becoming a member lies in the opportunity to contribute to a community that has long endured hostility and discrimination. It's about providing an invaluable service to those who have often been marginalized and overlooked. Your participation should be driven by a genuine passion for supporting the LGBTQ community and a deep desire to make a positive impact. If your primary motivation is to serve and make a difference, you've come to the right place.

The tangible benefit we offer is a business listing in our directory, which serves as a signal to clients who prefer to work with an LGBTQ-friendly Notary. This listing is also beneficial for SEO purposes, providing a backlink to your website if you have one. Additionally, you will receive a special membership badge for your website and social media, showcasing your support for the LGBTQ community. Beyond this, the satisfaction derived from being of service to this community should be the primary motivation behind your decision to join.

In order to become a member, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must be a notary.
• You must agree to the Notaries LGBTQ Code Of Conduct.
• You must be able to speak English (Although if you speak multiple languages, that is always a plus!).
• You must be located in any of the 50 United States, Washington DC, or any U.S.A Territory.
• You absolutely MUST be an ally of the ENTIRE Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Intersex, Non-Binary, and Transgender community, without compromise. Honestly, I would expect ANY public official to fit this criteria, and not hold any hate in their heart for the people they serve because when you become a public official, you take an oath to serve all people equally, however sometimes it just needs to be said. If you have questions about this bullet point, please refer to the article above.

Cost of membership is only $6.71 per month, which contributes to paying monthly fees to keep this project alive, and adds to our fund for creating programs and Scholarships for LGBTQ people in need.

How is this $6.71 Monthly Fee money spent?

• $1.00 will be set aside in order to pay Monthly Web Hosting Fees.
• $1.00 will be set aside in order to pay Monthly Software Licensing Fees for the application framework that runs this website.
• $1.00 will be set aside in order to create a fund that is used to create Programs and Scholarships for LGBTQ people of all ages in need.
• $1.00 will be set aside in order to eventually hire an assistant to help maintain this website, answer phones, & online communications.
• $1.00 will be set aside in order to host Special Events & Fund Raisers to further our project, and add to our funds so we can become more visible, grow quicker, and help more people!
• $1.00 will be set aside in order to eventually cover the fees to turn this project into a full fledge 501(c)(3) Non Profit Organization, which means we would eventually be able to receive government grants to add to our funds.
• $0.71 is used to cover the PayPal fee for each payment transaction.

It is our goal to eventually have enough funds to to pay you (the notaries) full price to perform notarizations with Non-Profit funds in order to provide free notarizations to our LGBTQ Clientelle, but in order to get the ball rolling, we have to start by charging this monthly fee.

Some of you may be asking yourselves "What are the benefits of becoming a member of the LGBTQ Notary Association? AND what are the perks?" If being of service to our community and making a difference isn't enough, what we can provide is a membership with a business listing advertising that you are available as a Notary for clients who want to work with an LGBTQ friendly Notary. There is a benefit and perk to being listed, it's very good for S.E.O. purposes, as this will add a backlink for your website (if you have one) and this will help you increase your ranking in search engines, as well you will have access to a very special membership badge that you can place on your website, social media, etc.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration, have a wonderful day!

XOXO ~ Zara Shea