News at BALIF
BALIF stands in full support of Lambda Legal attorney Carl Charles
Dear BALIF Members, BALIF stands in full support of Lambda Legal attorney Carl Charles in response to the outrageous federal indictment filed against him earlier this month in the Middle District of Alabama. Mr. Charles is a highly respected civil rights lawyer who...
BALIF Joins Emergency Amicus Brief in U.S. Supreme Court Case Defending LGBTQ Youth Access to Social Media
Last week, BALIF joined an emergency amicus brief submitted with the U.S. Supreme Court in NetChoice v. Fitch, urging the Court to vacate a Fifth Circuit decision that allowed a Mississippi law restricting minors' access to social media to take effect while its...
BALIF Statement About US v. Skrmetti Decision Today
Dear BALIF Members, This morning, the Supreme Court issued an opinion in US v. Skrmetti, upholding the Tennessee ban on gender affirming care for minors. A link to the full opinion can be found here. U.S. v. Skrmetti is one of the most consequential cases involving...
BALIF Statement About Federal Funding Cuts for Gender Affirming Care
Dear BALIF Members, On May 22nd, the House passed a bill that purports to cut all federal funding for gender affirming care for trans people of any age. It also reduces healthcare funding overall in ways that disproportionately impact the LGBTQ+ community, especially...
Protecting Our Community: DHS Policy Update & Digital Privacy Resources
BALIF opposes the recent revision to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) Policy Manual which removes gender identity from its list of protected classes in DHS’ personnel’s intelligence gathering. Previously, the...
BALIF and AABA Condemn Attacks on LGBTQIA+ Community
The Trump administration’s recent Executive Orders broadly targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts—and those specifically attacking the rights and dignity of transgender individuals—are an affront to the core values of BALIF, the Asian American Bar...
Nation’s first transgender trial judge Victoria Kolakowski to receive Stonewall Award
Congratulations to BALIF member, Judge Victoria Kolakowski!Sign up for the BALIF Newsletters
BALIF’s Letter of Solidarity in Response to Atlanta Shootings and Rising AAPI Hate
We write on behalf of BALIF, as the nation’s oldest LGBTQIA+ bar association, to express our rage, grief, and condolences for the victims and their families affected by the shootings on March 16, 2021 in the Atlanta area at three massage parlors, the Gold Massage Spa,...
BALIF Statement on the 2021 California Gubernatorial Recall Election
Dear BALIF Member, This fall, Californians will decide on whether to recall Governor Gavin Newsom from office. As members and allies of LGBTQI+, BIPOC, immigrant, and other marginalized communities and identities, we cannot sit out this important election. If more...
BALIF’s New Lawyers Committee is accepting applications for the 2021-2022 Mentorship Program!
BALIF's New Lawyers Committee is accepting applications for the 2021-2022 Mentorship Program! BALIF's incredibly successful mentorship program is back and we're hoping to recruit eager law students, post-bar graduates, and lawyers of every experience level to receive...