A (Farewell) Message from the Chair
And in a blink of an eye, it’s almost over! My 2021/2022 term as Section Chair ends in August and it has passed by incredibly fast, but I am incredibly proud of all the work we accomplished this year. I want to thank my fellow Officers (Hossein, Kees, Kyla and Frances), our hard-working CBA staff (especially Travis and Véronique) as well as the entire CBA SOGIC Section Executive Committee for making this year a success.
Even though the hard work has been ongoing for years, it was thrilling to be in the driver’s seat to watch high profile moments such as Parliament passing Bill C-4 (An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy)) and the recent announcement that Health Canada has finally approved the lift on blood donations from men who have sex with men. The work, of course, continues to ensure we transition towards more inclusive and just policies. It has also been a privilege to work on new engagement projects like Coffee in the Times of COVID and I’m looking forward to the new PRISME conference (more below) later this month. And, of course, it has been a joy to be part of regular CBA SOGIC Section staples (like the Hero and Ally Awards, policy and law reform meetings and Pride).
Next year promises to be exciting! In addition to our regular priorities, the Section is positioned to offer our first online symposium and to release the Access to Justice for Trans People report. I look forward to being of service to next year’s Executive as Past Chair and to working with Hossein Moghtaderi as incoming Chair.
I wish everyone happy Pride! I hope you have a wonderful summer and I look forward to seeing you all next year.
PRISME Conference
The Section encourages all interested LGBTQ2S+ legal professionals and students to participate in the first PRISME conference on June 18 and 19, 2022 in Toronto.
The PRISME Conference is Canada’s newest LGBTQ2S+ law conference representing collaboration between organizations like Start Proud, EGALE and the Dignity Network Canada. Registration is free and this promises to be an exciting event, so we hope to see you there!
Pride
Get your rainbow tabs ready, as Pride has arrived! The Section is once again encouraging its members to post photos in rainbow tabs, or in other legal settings celebrating their pride.
As events continue to be organized and finalized, we will be distributing a list of events on our Pride page, so watch for further information on how to attend and participate in events in your area and online!
Save the Date: CBA SOGIC Online Symposium – December 1, 2022!
The Section is pleased to announce that it will be putting on a one-day online symposium later in fall.
Right now, we are working to finalize a list of speakers and topics for an excellent program, so make sure to mark December 1st in your calendars for this sure-to-be-awesome event! If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out.
Stay tuned for more information!
Want More PD?
You can search webinars by series to pick the best programs that meet your needs.
Check out the new Solutions Series (March 29 – June 14, 2022): practical solutions for everyday problems! Participants will learn new strategies for boosting client service standards while meeting expanding client needs in changing times.
And be sure to check out the CBA’s new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Series, which is free for CBA members!
Sincerely,
Jonathan Griffith
Chair, CBA Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Community Section