LGBTQ Notary Association

Notary Public, Notary Prejudice: Addressing Bias in the Industry with Dean Eason-Williams

I’m Zara Shea, Notary Public and the proud founder of the LGBTQ Notary Association. What began as a simple vision to ensure fairness and dignity in notarization for the LGBTQ+ community has grown into a national mission rooted in accessibility, inclusion, and professional integrity, values I carry into every part of this work.

Today, I’m genuinely excited to introduce Dean Eason-Williams, owner of NotaryCLT Signings™ and our official Legacy Vault by My Life and Wishes representative. Thanks to Dean, we’re able to offer complimentary Legacy Vaults to all 2 year and 4 year donating members, a perk that adds real world protection and peace of mind to our member experience.

Dean has been a dedicated supporter of this organization, showing up not just with words but with action. His ongoing involvement makes a real difference. In this conversation, we’ll talk about LGBTQ inclusive notary services, the gaps that still exist, and why a platform like ours is needed now more than ever.

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Zara Shea (Interviewer): Dean, thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. You’ve been an active and donating member of the LGBTQ Notary Association for over a year. What inspired you to join and support this initiative?

Dean Eason-Williams: "I'm thrilled to have been a donating member of the LGBT Notary Association for over a year now because, as a gay man and a business owner, I believe in the power of inclusivity and diversity. I've always felt that being part of organizations that share a similar identity and common worldview enhances not just our personal growth, but also the quality of service we provide to the community. For instance, through Carolina's LGBT Chamber of Commerce, which is my local LGBT Chamber of Commerce, I underwent the rigorous process to become a certified LGBT Business Enterprise (BE), a certification bestowed by the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. This recognition helped solidify NotaryCLT Signings™’ identity as a genuine, recognized gay-owned and gay-operated professional nationwide mobile notary public signing service, within our community."

Zara Shea (Interviewer): Your business, NotaryCLT Signings™, is affiliated with several LGBTQ organizations. How has your involvement in these groups influenced your notary practice?

Dean Eason-Williams: "NotaryCLT Signings™ is proud to be a member of several LGBTQ organizations, including the Pauli Murray LGBTQ Bar Association (PMBA), The North Carolina LGBT Real Estate Alliance, in addition to our local LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. We are actively involved in community events, volunteering our time for name change clinics and other initiatives that directly support the LGBTQ population."

Zara Shea (Interviewer): You shared a powerful story about a transgender signer who faced discrimination before coming to you for notarial services. Can you elaborate on that experience and its significance?

Dean Eason-Williams: "I recently had an experience that underscored this need, a signer booked an appointment for a government document three days in advance. When he arrived with his wife alongside him, they explained that they had been rejected by two other notaries in their hometowns, because the notaries there said they were not aware of how to complete that form. It was a standard-issue form for our state that merely required their identifying the signer and watching them sign, plain as that.

The fact was, he needed a birth certificate modification to change his gender marker from female to male. The fact that discrimination runs deep through the fabric of our country, was plain as a clear sky when that signer and his wife shared such a wretched experience with me. After driving over an hour to reach us, it reminded me why our work is so crucial. I am very happy to say that when they left my home-office on that Sunday evening, that document was signed and notarized and ready to be submitted in the next phase of filing it with the State.

It should have been ready after the first notary was visited, but, unfortunately, there are still problems in our society regarding even a Notary Public being unbiased in their service role."

Zara Shea (Interviewer): You’ve expressed a strong vision for the LGBTQ Notary Association expanding nationally. Just to clarify, the Association has always had a national mission, striving to have notaries listed in every state. While we haven’t yet reached that goal, our LGBTQ-friendly virtual notaries help ensure that individuals in areas without a physical notary can still access the services they need. In fact, you are one of those virtual notaries, providing accessible and affirming notarization. What are your thoughts on this growing network?

Dean Eason-Williams: "I see enormous potential in expanding the LGBT Notary Association nationally. With the current state of affairs and the frequent attacks against the LGBTQ community, a robust, visible association would provide much-needed support and advocacy. The notary public serves as a neutral party for all legal notarizations, and any discrimination, especially against LGBTQ individuals, is a disgrace to our office and should never be tolerated."

Zara Shea (Interviewer): Dean, I truly appreciate your time and insights today. Your dedication to fostering an inclusive and affirming notarial space is inspiring. The work you do not only helps individuals in need of fair notarization but also strengthens the mission of the LGBTQ Notary Association. Thank you for being part of this important movement.

Dean Eason-Williams: "I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Zara Shea for her envisioning and creating the LGBTQ Notary Association. I urge any notary public who identifies as LGBTQ to join this organization, support it through donations, and volunteer their time and energy. Together, we can guarantee its success and growth, making a significant impact on the support available to the LGBTQ community nationwide."

Closing Thoughts: Strengthening the Integrity of the Notarial Profession

Zara Shea (Interviewer): Upholding gold-standard notarial services for all people, regardless of identity, background, or belief, is fundamental to the integrity of The Office of Notary Public. Notaries in the United States must adhere to political and secular impartiality, a principle deeply rooted in the U.S. Constitution, the Fair Housing Act, and the fundamental right to freedom of and from religion. By ensuring that every signer receives equal treatment under the law, we strengthen the neutrality, fairness, and ethical responsibility of notaries nationwide.

Dean exemplifies the highest standard of professional service, ensuring that equity-driven notarization is a reality for all. His commitment to inclusive, discrimination-free notarization is a model for the industry. We commend Dean and all notaries who stand for fair, accessible, and legally sound notarial services.

Thank you for supporting LGBTQ Notary Association, where accessibility, inclusion, and professionalism define who we are.

LGBTQ Notary Association: Ensuring Inclusive & Accessible Notarial Services

At LGBTQ Notary Association, we believe that everyone deserves access to fair, affirming, and inclusive notarial services. Whether you need an in-person LGBTQ-friendly notary in your community or a virtual notary to assist with gender marker changes, name change documents, or estate planning, we are here to serve you. Our mission is to connect individuals with trusted LGBTQ-affirming notaries, whether they are searching for a gay-friendly notary, transgender-friendly notary, or an inclusive notary public who understands the needs of the entire LGBTQ+ spectrum.

While we strive to have LGBTQ-friendly notaries listed in every state, not all regions currently have affirming professionals available. That’s why we provide virtual notary services, ensuring remote notarization for LGBTQ+ clients is accessible nationwide. Our certified LGBTQ-friendly online notaries are dedicated to fair, bias-free, and legally sound notarizations that uphold professional integrity.

Additionally, our notaries specialize in sensitive legal services such as legal name changes, estate planning for same-sex couples, and gender marker updates. These essential services provide security, peace of mind, and legal protection for LGBTQ+ individuals as they navigate key life transitions.

Thank you for reading! As an ally of the LGBTQ community, please consider joining our LGBTQ Notary Association, now offering a complimentary lifetime Legacy Vault by My Life and Wishes courtesy of Dean Eason-Williams and free Apostille Agent Certification as part of your membership. Thousands of LGBTQ clients seek out notaries who are specifically LGBTQ friendly, would you allow us to add you to our area map so we can serve more clients in more locations?

If you are not ready to join but still wish to support our mission, please consider making a donation to help expand our advocacy efforts and education programs in 2025.

Not yet familiar with best practices? Read our Notaries LGBTQ Code of Conduct for guidance on handling sensitive situations with confidence.

Thank you for your time and support, and have a wonderful day,

XOXO, Zara Shea, Notary Public