Why I Stand Proudly With the LGBTQ Notary Association, And Why You Should Too
- Jennifer Neitzel (Dallas, TX)
- Jun 18
- 7 min read
Every person deserves to be seen. To be respected. To be served with dignity.
That shouldn’t be a controversial statement, and yet, in far too many professional settings, members of the LGBTQ+ community are still being met with hesitation, bias, or outright discrimination. That is unacceptable. As a business owner, educator, and community builder, I believe our work means nothing if it doesn't uplift everyone.
Let me be clear: I am an ally, and I will die on that hill.
I don’t say that for applause. I say it because this is the kind of hill you build a better profession on. One where we stop pretending impartiality means silence, and start understanding that real impartiality demands action. Action rooted in fairness, understanding, and respect for every identity and every story.
When I met Zara Shea and learned about the work she’s doing through the LGBTQ Notary Association, I knew it was something we all needed to hear more about. Her mission is bold, necessary, and overdue: ensuring that notaries and other service providers are educated, equipped, and ready to serve LGBTQ+ individuals with the professionalism and affirmation they deserve.
This month, in honor of Pride, I’m honored to amplify Zara’s voice and encourage you to not just read her words, but reflect on what they mean for your business, your practice, and your role as a trusted professional.
Because love is love.
And service is service.
And whether you identify as LGBTQ+ or not, every client you encounter is a human being worthy of dignity and validation.
I proudly support the LGBTQ Notary Association. I hope you will too. Visit https://lgbtnotary.com/become-a-member/ to learn more about becoming a member or ally of this powerful organization.
Now, please join me in welcoming Zara Shea to the blog. Her words are more than timely. They’re timeless.
Stamped With Dignity: Why True
Impartiality Serves Everyone
By Zara Shea, Notary Public
Hello everybody! Or, as I like to say, hello to everybody, every identity, and every story. I’m Zara Shea, a Notary Public based in San Diego, California, and the founder of the LGBTQ Notary Association, a space where notaries and clients come together in a network of trust,
professionalism, and true impartiality. The association offers membership and a business listing, making it easier for LGBTQ clients, especially transgender, gender non-binary, intersex, gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals, to connect with notaries who respect and affirm their identities and family dynamics. But my mission doesn’t stop there. Through the Truly Impartial Professionals Learning Center, I am working to equip notaries and other professionals with the knowledge and tools to serve all clients with fairness, dignity, and legal precision. More details about this groundbreaking initiative can be found later in this article.
A Signature of Recognition
A name misheard, a glance unkind,
A gender erased, a truth confined.
Yet here, the ink flows bold and free,
Your name, your truth, your dignity.
A simple act like signing a document, affirming an identity, should never be a battle for
recognition. Yet, for many in the LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender, gender
non-binary and intersex individuals, accessing notary and other professional services can be an ordeal riddled with microaggressions, bias, and outright denial. This is why LGBTQ-inclusive services matter. Impartiality does not mean neutrality in the face of discrimination; it means creating an environment where all clients receive the same dignity, respect, and seamless service as anyone else. But true impartiality extends beyond just LGBTQ+ inclusivity. It means ensuring that all people, regardless of their identity or circumstances, receive fair treatment.
Why LGBTQ-Inclusive Services Matter
For many LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly transgender and non-binary people, legal documents don’t always align with their true identities. A driver’s license may still reflect a birth name, a passport may list an outdated gender marker, and many intersex individuals face bureaucratic obstacles due to restrictive legal definitions of gender. These mismatches lead to embarrassment, delays, and even outright refusals of service. Some professionals may claim neutrality while still engaging in discriminatory practices, like using incorrect names or pronouns, or questioning the validity of a client’s identity. True impartiality demands that we, as service providers, respect legal documents without judgment and honor the dignity of every individual.
Beyond identity verification, LGBTQ+ individuals, especially same-sex couples, face additional challenges in estate planning, parental rights, and legal agreements, where outdated legal frameworks or uninformed service providers create unnecessary hurdles. But LGBTQ+ inclusion is just the beginning.
With Every Mark, You Belong
Not just a witness, but a hand extended,
A promise made, a story mended.
In every stamp, a silent vow,
Your truth is honored, here and now.
Expanding the Vision: Why True Impartiality Benefits All
The Truly Impartial Professionals Learning Center was born from a mission to help LGBTQ+
clients find welcoming, professional notaries. However, true impartiality goes further.
A truly impartial professional understands that many different groups face barriers when seeking services. These include:
● People of varying or no faith who may have experienced religious bias in legal settings.
● People from diverse family structures, polyamorous families, blended families, single
parents, who need legal validation without judgment.
● Prisoners and formerly incarcerated individuals facing systemic barriers when handling
legal matters.
● Cannabis-friendly services, where legality varies and stigma often remains.
● Hoarders or individuals living in distressed conditions, requiring sensitivity rather than
judgment.
● People who make you uncomfortable, where personal biases must be set aside in favor
of professional duty.
● Conflict resolution strategies, ensuring that notaries and service providers know how to
de-escalate difficult interactions while protecting themselves and their clients.
True impartiality is not passive, it is active. It requires learning, unlearning biases, and
committing to professional integrity even in difficult situations.
The Role of Notaries & Other Service Providers
Notaries are not just neutral witnesses, we are gatekeepers of access. A refusal, an
unnecessary delay, or a lack of understanding can prevent someone from finalizing essential legal documents.
To truly uphold the Notarial Impartiality Standard, we must:
● Respect names and pronouns, even when they differ from outdated documents.
● Avoid unnecessary questioning, if a document is legally valid, our role is to notarize, not
scrutinize.
● Provide accessible service, ensuring all people, regardless of status or background,
receive equal treatment.
Impartiality doesn’t mean standing in the middle, it means standing firmly for fairness.
Impartiality Is Not a Political Agenda, It’s a Constitutional Standard
Some may look at discussions of LGBTQ+ inclusion and impartiality as part of a "liberal
agenda." But the truth is, LGBTQ+ people are not a political movement, we exist on both sides of the aisle and in every aspect of life. Being transgender, gender non-binary, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or intersex is not an ideology, it is simply who we are.
I have even had the pleasure of knowing a transgender woman who was a nun living in stealth, a term used when a transgender person lives fully in their gender identity without disclosing that they are transgender. She was a person of deep faith, devoted to her calling, and yet she also carried a reality that many would not expect. Her story is proof that LGBTQ+ individuals are present in every community, every profession, and every walk of life.
But here’s the most important point: Impartiality is a constitutional standard, not a political stance. The United States Constitution upholds freedom from religion, meaning that no one, whether religious or atheist, has the right to impose their beliefs on another. Secularity ensures that no ideology dictates law or service.
When all things are equal, secularity creates a space free from ideology, ensuring that every
person, regardless of their background, has an equal opportunity to thrive. Impartiality requires that we do not impose personal beliefs on others, no matter what they are.
Building a Brighter Notary Future, Together
I’m excited to share that 2025 Membership Intake for the LGBTQ Notary Association is now
open! This year, I’ve added more tangible perks than ever such as Lifetime Legacy Vaults to
make sure your membership brings real value, real support, and real community. If you’ve been thinking about joining, now is the perfect time:
I’m also opening up the waitlist for The Notarial Impartiality Standard Certification Training. This is a course I’ve created to help notaries understand what political and secular impartiality really means under the U.S. Constitution, and how to apply it with fairness and confidence in your work. You can add your name to the waitlist here: https://trulyimpartial.com
I believe in building something that lasts, something that uplifts, and something that reflects the world we deserve. I’d love to have you with me. Happy stamping!
Thanks to Jennifer!
Jennifer Neitzel exemplifies this commitment to inclusivity and professional excellence. I am
incredibly grateful to Jennifer for the opportunity to write this guest article and contribute to the ongoing conversation about inclusivity and impartiality in notarial services. Her work continues to uplift and educate notaries across the country, and I look forward to future collaborations as we both strive to strengthen the notary profession.
A Stand That Lasts Beyond June
I have watched my rights slip through the cracks,
signed away in backroom pacts.
Laws debated, allyships erased,
justice moving at a hollow pace.
Worn for a month, then stripped away,
as June departs, so does the display.
Rainbows packed like props on a shelf,
allyship measured in profit, not self.
But we do not live in months or trends,
our fight continues, it never ends.
Pride’s not a banner, a fleeting sight,
it’s breath and blood, a lifelong fight.
Not just a post, not just a pin,
not just a phase we cycle in.
It’s voices raised when no one cheers,
a stand that lasts beyond the years.
To be an ally, hear this call:
It’s not for show, it’s not for fall.
It’s not just loud when light is shined,
it’s what you do when we’re maligned.
Every second, every breath,
in the silence, in the depth.
When the colors fade from view,
who remains? I hope it’s you.
What a time we are living in! I enjoyed this article and will be looking into this association further! I guess as a notary I have not experienced problematic signings with the LGBTQ+ signers I’ve had the privilege to work with, I try to be as professional and welcoming as possible. What has peeked my interest the most is the point of “Constitutional Standards" and how important it is to maintain integrity, especially in these times we are living in. 🍿