On behalf of our dedicated executive committee, it is my privilege to welcome you to the CBA Sexual and Gender Diversity Alliance (SAGDA) Section. Previously known as the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Community (SOGIC) Section, we have changed our name to better reflect the communities we represent. Our mission remains the same: to advocate for the needs of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and to provide networking and legal education opportunities for lawyers who share our identities and work with our stakeholders.
I extend a heartfelt thanks to outgoing chair, Hossein Moghtaderi for his leadership and ongoing support for our organization. I look forward to building on our past successes with Hossein and our officers, Kyla Lee, Chuck Easton, and Stacey Merrigan, as well as our provincial and territorial branch chairs and members-at-large.
If you would like to join our diverse and committed team of volunteers, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Initiatives for 2023-2024
Meeting with WAGE
Our Section has already been hard at work this term! Back in October, we had a virtual meeting with WAGE (Women and Gender Equality Canada), a department of the federal government, to continue our ongoing discussions advancing policies relating to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. These productive discussions will continue into the new year, as we are planning to meet with WAGE in person in 2024.
Pride Initiatives
We are already looking ahead to Pride month! We will be hosting a virtual, national talk for Pride in 2024, and are working on lining up some engaging and knowledgeable speakers. Further, one of our officers will attend the annual PRISME conference held by the Canadian Association of LGBTQ2S+ Lawyers (CALL) to show our support and maintain the strong relationship between our organizations. Be sure to keep an eye out for CBA Pride resources, professional development initiatives, and more, at both the national and provincial/territorial levels.
Hero/Ally Awards
Once again, we will be awarding our annual Hero/Ally Awards for the 2023/2024! Check out our impressive past honourees and details regarding eligibility. Deadline: March 29, 2024.
Call for Member Articles
We are looking to feature member articles in Triangle. If you are interested in having an article published, please let us know! Our volunteer Editor, Kyla Lee, would be happy to connect with you.
Recent Submissions
Sincerely,
Kees de Ridder
Chair, 2023-2024, CBA Sexual and Gender Diversity Alliance Section