About BALIF

First Annual G/L law Student Conference (this was a big BALIF event for many years, but has not been recently)

BALIF membership hits 300; Annual Dinner attended by 150 people (over 900 attended in 1995; in 2014, approximately 700)

BALIF identifies tax reporting problem, gains tax exempt status as a 501(c) (6) nonprofit business association, and files appropriate returns

BALIF publishes first inclusive public directory; members who do not wish to be included must affirmatively opt out of publication

BALIF files two amicus briefs in California state courts in support of CA’s “hate crime” statute and challenging a religious landlord’s refusal to rent to an unmarried couple

BALIF joins Supreme Court amicus brief in Romer v. Evans and joins amicus briefs in Virginia state courts in a custody dispute between a different-sex couple, where the child’s mother was in a same-sex relationship

Chief Justice Ronald M. George (California Supreme Court) keynote speaker at Annual Dinner; Justice Kathryn Werdegar also attends. BALIF hosts private reception for local LGBT judges with Supreme Court Justices

BALIF disbands Diversity Committee

BALIF joins a Supreme Court amicus brief in Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, case holding that Title VII protects against all sex discrimination, including same-sex harassment; BALIF files brief in the Supreme Court in a case challenging the constitutionality of the Communications Decency Act of 1996

BALIF joins amicus brief in Supreme Court in case on application of Americans with Disabilities Act to individuals with HIV/AIDS

Transgender persons added to BALIF’s tag line

BALIF becomes incorporated (along with bylaw revisions)

BALIF participates in state-wide domestic partnership registry effort by hosting notary service at Annual Dinner for domestic partner registration

Bylaws revised to include transgender persons in gender equity; BALIF files amicus brief with U.S. Supreme Court in Boy Scouts case; BALIF files amicus brief in California in support of retroactive application of amendments to California’s law prohibiting sex discrimination in employment

BALIF files amicus brief in Ninth Circuit sex discrimination case and files briefs in California courts in challenge to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” regulations and wrongful death case on behalf of same-sex partner; BALIF joins amicus brief in the Third Circuit in support of First Amendment challenge to Child Online Protection Act

BALIF files amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit challenging policy on gays and lesbians in the military and files brief in the D.C. Court of Appeals concerning application of D.C. Human Rights statute to Boy Scouts; BALIF joins brief in the Massachusetts Supreme Court in the Goodridge marriage equality case

BALIF joins amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in Lawrence v. Texas, joining others in the successful campaign which culminated in having all anti-sodomy laws struck down across the country; BALIF joins amicus brief filed in California in support of second-parent adoption by same-sex partners

BALIF hosts the Minority Bar Coalition annual event for the first time

BALIF joins three amicus briefs in California courts regarding parental rights of lesbian/gay parents; BALIF files Supreme Court brief in case challenging Solomon Amendment, which conditioned institutions of higher education’s receipt of federal funds on permitting military to recruit on campus notwithstanding discriminatory policies

BALIF celebrates the California Supreme Court’s decision legalizing same sex marriage. Several months later, BALIF spent endless time, talent, and energy (and donated $25,000!) in the fight against Proposition 8.

BALIF joins amicus briefs in California Supreme Court in cases concerning rights of same-sex parents.

BALIF files briefs in U.S. District Court and in the Ninth Circuit challenging Proposition 8.

BALIF launches “It Gets Better” video series emphasizing not only that it gets better, but what members are going to “make it better.”

BALIF files district court brief in opposition to a motion to vacate the decision overturning Proposition 8 based on Judge Walker’s alleged bias.

BALIF files amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit in Golinski and in the Supreme Court in Perry v. Schwarzenegger. Joined amicus brief in the Supreme Court in United States v. Windsor.

Celebrated BALIF member, Tara Flanagan, being elected as an openly lesbian judge to the Alameda County Superior Court.

BALIF celebrates 30 years of alumni with the first-everHomecoming, and launches Community Volunteer Initiative program.

BALIF files amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit in support of marriage equality in cases challenging Hawaii’s and Nevada’s same-sex marriage bans.

BALIF files amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in Obergefell case on marriage equality.

BALIF files an amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit in support of a transgender woman prisoner seeking medical care in Norsworthy v. Beard

BALIF joins amicus briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court in reproductive freedom and immigrants’ rights cases

BALIF celebrates its founding members with the event: BALIF’s Past, Present and Future: Celebrating our History and Looking at the LGBT Civil Rights Battles Ahead. This Event had over 100 attendees and featured a panel of BALIF Founders, including Judge Donna Hitchens (Ret.), Carl Wolf, Fred Hertz, and Nanci Clarence. Kate Kendall spoke about our future challenges.

BALIF joins amicus brief in New Jersey in case addressing importance of allowing transgender people to bring claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act when they’ve experienced discrimination on the basis of gender dysphoria.

BALIF held its first Letter Writing happy hour. Those that attended, wrote letters to local and national leaders regarding the Kavanagh confirmation hearings. At the end, BALIF dropped over 25 letters in the mail written by our members.

The Community Activism Committee successfully brought back our legal clinics and partnered with the LGBT Center in San Francisco. A great group of volunteers has gathered to help the community with legal services (Family Law, Immigration Law, Employment Law, Health Care, Name/Gender Change).

BALIF Programs Committee Presents- Honoring Julius Turman: Reflections on Intersectional Advocacy in the Legal Profession Event. The event had over 60 attendants at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP with a wonderful reception and a panel with Susan Christian, David Tsai, Angela Padilla, and David Campos. Moderated by Brandon Lawrence and co-sponsored by the Charles Houston Bar Association.

BALIF added a “Q” and “I” to “An LGBT Bar Association. The new Logo now is – BALIF, An LGBTQI Bar Association.

BALIF reunited with ACS for a Judge’s Reception “Off the Record” at Orrick. It was very well attended. BALIF had not done this event in a few years and hopes to continue to stay in contact and co-sponsor more events with ACS in the future.

BALIF created the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the Governance Committee

BALIF Adopted a Vision, Values and Mission Statement

Vision Statement
BALIF is a community of LGBTQI+ legal professionals that envisions a world where LGBTQI+ people live with dignity and equality under the law.

Values

1. LGBTQI+ Justice & Equality
2. Community Empowerment & Development
3. Diversity & Inclusion

Mission Statement: To lead our LGBTQI+ legal community through advocacy, justice, community empowerment, and professional development.

BALIF includes treasurer’s reports, minutes, and committee reports on website to increase transparency, thanks to Governance Committee.

Diversity Equity Inclusion Officer position is created, expanding upon the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Julius Turman Award was created by the BALIF Foundation.

BALIF launched the first version of Year in Review through a digital magazine highlighting the organization’s accomplishments from the last year

BALIF finalized and adopted updated bylaws.

BALIF held the Halloween Fundraiser and Holiday Party back in person