SOGIC (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Conference) Section
About the Section
The purpose of this Section is to provide a forum for the exchange of information, ideas, and action on legal issues relating to sexual orientation and gender identity. The Section has been active in promoting continuing legal education, hosting information sessions for the community at large, and working towards legislative changes to ensure greater equality in society.
Click here to get information on the corresponding CBA National Section
Section Executive
Co-Chair
Jeffrey Parker
Taylor McCaffrey LLP
900-400 St Mary Ave
Winnipeg, MB R3C 4K5
Phone: 988-0381
Fax: 953-7239
jparker@tmlawyers.com |
Co-Chair
Danielle Fraser
Fraser Law
308 Morley Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3L 0Y5
Phone: 284-8789
Fax: 284-8960
danielle@dfraserlaw.ca |
Upcoming Section Events
MANITOBA BAR ASSOCIATION
SOGIC Section and The Law Society of Manitoba present:
Jointly sponsored by the Manitoba Bar Association’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Conference (Manitoba) Section and The Law Society of Manitoba
You are cordially invited to a reception in celebration of Pride Week, 2012 Winnipeg Please join us for a reception to celebrate the achievements and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender lawyers and activists in promoting equality and human rights.
DATE: Wednesday, May 30, 2012
TIME: 5:30 to 7:30 pm
LOCATION: Blackstone Lounge, Taylor McCaffrey LLP, 11th Floor - 400 St. Mary Avenue
To assist with catering, please confirm your attendance to the Manitoba Bar Association RSVP Line @ 927-1211 or by email (sections@cba-mb.ca) by Noon on Friday, May 25, 2012.
Past Section Events
February 22, 2012, 7:00pm (Taylor McCaffrey, Blackstone Lounge): Business Meeting
September 13, 2011, 6:00pm (Luxalune): General Meeting
June 1, 2011, 5:30pm (Blackstone Lounge, Taylor McCaffrey LLP): Pride Reception
January 25, 2011, 5:00pm: Canadian Blood Services Information Session
December 1, 2010, 6:30pm: Holiday Potluck
October 20, 2010, 6:00pm (Oakwood Cafe): General Meeting
June 1, 2010, 5:00pm: Reception in celebration of Pride Week 2010
April 14, 2010, 6:00pm (Tomato Pie Company Restaurant): General Meeting
Section Reports
2009/2010
2010/2011
Articles posted include:
Beyond Marriage: Current Issues in Gay and Lesbian Rights Litigation – Associate Professor Debra Parkes
This article was presented as a CLE at the 2008 Mid-Winter meeting. In the article, Professor Parkes briefly summarizes important cases that have dealt with gay and lesbian rights. She then proceeds to a discussion of issues that have emerged as a result of these rulings, especially in the areas of health law and remaining criminal prohibitions that may have a disproportionate impact on members of the gay and lesbian community. Professor Parkes finishes with a brief discussion of the controversy about how to balance religious rights with those of gay and lesbian individuals when it comes to same-sex marriage, with a focus on the cases involving marriage commissioners.
Sex and the Supreme Court – Obscenity and Indecency from Butler to Labaye – Professor Brenda Cossman
This article was presented as a CLE at the 2008 Mid-Winter meeting. Professor Cossman starts with a brief overview of the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in R. v. Labaye and the community standards test that arose from this decision. She then proceeds to give her personal view that rather than being a decision about indecency, as it appears on the surface, this decision was based on “sexual morality and the legal repression of sexual representation.” Professor Cossman then proceeds through a very brief summary of some decisions based on the community standards test. Finally, Professor Cossman explains the decision of the court in R. v. Labaye and how the two-part harm test that arose from this decision is a much better test than the community standards test. She explains the process of applying the two-step test, and finishes by questioning public reaction to the decision.
Prosecuting and Defending the “Sexy” Cases Post Labaye and Kouri – Sarah Inness
This article was presented as a CLE at the 2008 Mid-winter meeting. Ms. Inness explains the test that arose out of the companion decisions of R. v. Labaye and R. v. Kouri. She argues that a theoretical analysis and understanding of the Supreme Court’s shift to a pure harm based test is important and will invariably be relevant to prosecuting or defending these types of cases. The paper then summarizes the law and sets out the basic “nuts and bolts” of proving/defending such cases. Ms. Inness argues that it is important for both sides to appreciate the test, and explains the standard of proof and the evidentiary requirements now held by the Supreme Court of Canada to be mandatory, at least insofar as the prosecution of indecency is concerned.
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