Weekly Newsletter        |        September 27, 2016
In This Issue
Message from the BALIF Board 
 

In the midst of this heatwave please join me in celebrating two developments in our community that make important strides away from (oppressive, ineffective, simplistic, [insert your own pejorative term here]) binary frameworks.
 
The first is the victory of Sara Kelly Keenan and BALIF's own Toby Adams:  Represented by Toby Adams, Sara Keenan Kelly (a former paralegal) has become the second U.S. citizen - and the first Californian - to be granted non-binary gender status.  On behalf of our community, thank you, Sara and Toby, for trailblazing such an important path.  WELL DONE!  More details can be found here:  http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/californian-becomes-second-us-citizen-granted-non-binary-gender-status-n654611
 
In addition, the Movement Advancement Project just released their latest report on disparities facing those who identify as bisexual.  The full report can be found here:  http://www.lgbtmap.org/invisible-majority.  With awareness, growth is possible.  One section is particularly notable as we strive for greater inclusion within our own community:    
"Research shows that both heterosexual people and gay and lesbian people express bias towards bisexual people. This bias ranges from exclusion from social networks to assumptions that a bisexual person is confused about their sexuality or will cheat on their partner, to the discrimination discussed throughout this report in all areas of life including at work, at school, and when seeking health care. Bisexual people also lack support from families and friends. Only 28% of bisexual people say that all or most of the important people in their life know they are bisexual, compared to 77% of gay men and 71% of lesbians."
 
Please join me in bucking the binary and celebrating our non-binary family.  And please join us on October 4 for BALIF's Past, Present, and Future Event, where we will celebrate how far BALIF has come and discuss the path ahead.  You can register here:  http://balif.org/event-2313294


Sincerely, 


Jessica Bogo
BALIF Board Co-Chair
BALIF's Past, Present and Future: Celebrating our History and Looking at the LGBT Civil Rights Battles Ahead


Featuring BALIF Founders, including Judge Donna Hitchens (Ret.), Carl Wolf, Fred Hertz, Nanci Clarence and others

Legal Update by NCLR's Kate Kendell 
 
Discussion, drinks and food generously hosted and sponsored by Pillsbury 
 
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
6:00- 8:30 pm

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Four Embarcadero Center 22nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111


RAZING THE BAR: A Gathering of Future Movement Lawyers & Legal Workers 

When:  Saturday, October 8, 2016 from 9:30am - 6pm
Where: Berkeley Law and Boalt Hall, 215 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94720
 
BALIF's Community Activism Committee is excited to announce an opportunity to attend the National Lawyer's Guild's (NLG) Progressive Law Day (PLD). BALIF's Community Activism Committee aims to prepare BALIF attorney and law student members to assist in grassroots efforts for social justice. One of those ways is to offer BALIF members opportunities to learn more about radical lawyering and legal work. For example, the Community Activism Committee is creating a list of BALIF members who are trained and interested in becoming legal observers to call upon when needed. The event below provides an opportunity to obtain that training and learn more about how you can use your skills to support community activists in a variety of ways. If you are interested in becoming involved with BALIF's Community Activism Committee please contact Jen Orthwein at  activism@balif.org
 
Below are details about NLG's Progressive Law Day: 
PLD is a day-long conference, organized and led by law student members of the National Lawyers Guild, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (NLGSF), and open to legal workers, lawyers, activists, and anyone interested in learning about radical lawyering and legal work. The day will feature panels on immigration, poverty law, prisoner rights, and more! This is a great opportunity to connect with future legal advocates from all across the Bay Area. Please feel free to contact  therese@nlgsf.org if you have any questions.

9:30-10:00: Welcome Reception (Pastries and Coffee)
10:00-11:30: Panels I and II
11:45-1:15: Legal Observer Training
1:15 - 1:45: Lunch Provided (Continuing through Keynote)
1:45 - 2:30: Keynote - Walter Riley
2:45-4:15: Panels III and IV
4:30-6:00: Panels V and VI

For more information please visit:  http://bit.ly/2bYE2au

BALIF Fall Happy Hour

Thursday, October 13th, 2016  
 6 - 8 pm at Lookout in the Castro

Come out for an evening of fun in the Castro before the Holiday season fills up your schedule.

Appetizers will be served, and BALIF members will enjoy free drinks!

BALIF Volunteer Day at National AIDS Memorial Grove
On Saturday, October 15th from 9:00AM to noon BALIF volunteers will help with the work of creating and maintaining the National AIDS Memorial Grove. The National AIDS Memorial Grove, located in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, is a dedicated space in the national landscape where millions of Americans touched directly or indirectly by AIDS can gather to  heal, hope, and remember.  Its mission is to provide, in perpetuity, a place of remembrance so that the lives of people who died from AIDS are not forgotten and the story is known by future generations. 

BALIF volunteers will participate in gardening activities: clearing weeds and debris, mulching and hauling topsoil, planting new trees and shrubs, and other related activities within the Grove. A breakfast of coffee, juices, bagels and fruit is served at 8:30AM and lunch is provided to all volunteers at 12:30PM.  Most volunteers find Community Volunteer Workdays to be a rewarding experience, even though you may have sore muscles at the end of the day!  If you are interested, please RSVP to   socialaction@balif.org by Wednesday, October 12th.    
Bagels & Bubbly with 
Bisexuals in the Bay
What:  Bagels and Bubbly with Bisexuals in the Bay

Who:  Legal Professionals and their partners who identify as bisexual* 
(*The term bisexual is used as an umbrella term for people who have the potential for sexual, emotional, and/or romantic attraction to more than one gender.  This includes people who may identify as bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer, and questioning.)

When:   Sunday, October 16, 11am - 2pm


Details:  An opportunity for discussion and activities focused on bi-visibility and community within the bi-community.

Follow BALIF on Instagram
Follow @BALIFSF on Instagram!

We know a picture is worth a thousand words! See what we are up to and behind the scenes updates. Sharing photos on social media? Please tag us!
BALIF's "Connections"
Mentorship Program
 
BALIF's mentorship program is seeking mentors and mentees for 2016-2017.  For more information, see the program guidelines and description on the BALIF website. If you are a law student, recent law school graduate, or newer attorney seeking a mentor, or if you are an experienced attorney interested in serving as a mentor, please contact Ashley Pellouchoud or David Sims at:  younglawyers@balif.org
 
Mentors and mentee pairs will be assigned on a rolling basis from September thru October.

2016-2018 Tyron Garner Memorial Fellowship
Interested in a fellowship?  Please consider applying for the 2016-2018 Tyron Garner Memorial Fellowship for African-American LGBT Civil Rights:  http://www.lambdalegal.org/about-us/jobs/all_20160916_garner-fellow
Lambda Legal Upcoming Events
Lambda Legal Liberty Circle Reception - 9/27; 6-8pm Vanguard Properties 2501 Mission
Join members of Lambda Legal's Board of Directors, National Leadership Council, and other Liberty Circle members for a special cocktail reception welcoming Rachel B. Tiven as the new CEO of Lambda Legal. Hear her vision for the organization as we continue to fight for the full equality of LGBT people and those with HIV. RSVP to Mack Campbell at  mcampbell@lambdalegal.org.
 
Lambda Legal in the City VI - 10/5; 7-9pm
Enjoy cocktails and small bites while hearing about Lambda Legal's critical work across the country protecting and expanding the rights of LGBT people and people with HIV - the backlash against our historic marriage victory is in full force and we refuse to leave anyone in our community behind. The event is free to attend and your generous contributions to support Lambda Legal's work are greatly appreciated.  RSVP online at  https://www.facebook.com/events/798158370326254/.
 
Lambda Legal Silicon Valley Happy Hour - 10/20; 6-8pm 
Honcho in Los Altos
Lambda Legal invites you to join us for our Silicon Valley Happy Hour at Honcho. Please feel free to bring your friends along. This is a great opportunity to meet new people and get the latest updates on Lambda Legal cases that affect the entire LGBT community. We look forward to seeing you. All are welcome.  RSVP online at  https://www.facebook.com/events/1282576125107729/.

Probate Referee Program Opportunities -
from the 
Office of the State Controller Betty Yee
State Controller Betty Yee is searching for attorneys, certified public accountants, and certified  appraisers from diverse backgrounds to serve as probate referees. Our search encompasses everyone  including people of all races, genders, and LGBT status.

Probate referees are officers of the court who are appointed by the State Controller. They provide  reliable appraisals of all estate assets including businesses, securities, real estate, and personal
properties. Probate referees are not state employees; their fees are paid by the estates (trusts)  involved. For any appraisal required by law, probate referee fees are 1/10 th of one percent of the total  assets. The minimum fee is $75 plus expenses such as mileage and photos.

Qualification criteria and application information are on the Controller's website at  www.sco.ca.gov/eo_probate.html. The next probate referee examination will be held in April 2017.
People who meet all the qualifications and pass the examination may be contacted for an interview  by a panel of judges and attorneys. Controller Yee will decide whom to appoint after considering the  panel's recommendation.

ALRP from the Heart 
33rd Annual Reception & Auction

PLEASE JOIN US on OCTOBER 19, 2016

The AIDS Legal Referral Panel, formed in the early 1980s by a group of BALIF attorneys, is holding its ALRP From the Heart 33rd Annual Reception & Auction on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 from 6:00-9:00pm in the Julia Morgan Ballroom at the Merchants Exchange in San Francisco (465 California Street, near Montgomery Street).

ALRP's reception features gourmet catered hors d'oeuvres,
wine and beverages, a silent & live auction, and great networking.

During this special evening, we will honor those who have made a lasting difference in the lives of people with HIV/AIDS and recognize ALRP's 33 years of achievement. ALRP will be presenting its 2016 Clint Hockenberry Leadership Award to Jerome Fishkin, Esq., the ALRP 2016 Attorney of the Year Award to Okan Sengun, Esq., and the ALRP 2016 Firm of the Year Award to Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.

Tickets start at just $100 and can be purchased by contacting Jim McBride at (415) 701-1200 ext. 301,  jim@alrp.org, or simply pay at the door on October 19th.

SPARK! Transgender Law Center's 
14th Anniversary Celebration
SPARK! 2016: A 14th Anniversary Celebration of Transgender Law Center

October 20, 2016 
6 p.m.  Reception
7 p.m.  Awards Ceremony and Program 

Julia Morgan Ballroom
465 California St
San Francisco, CA 94104

In 2016, Transgender Law Center will celebrate 14 years of igniting changes to law, policy, and attitudes so that everyone can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression. For the last several years, we have held a widely popular anniversary celebration, called SPARK! This year, we anticipate over 400 of our most generous supporters, corporate partners, organizational allies, and elected officials to participate as we come together and recognize outstanding community leaders and businesses making huge strides in advancing transgender rights.
LGBT Asian American/ South Asian Attorney Networking Reception
 
We are celebrating the great diversity within our profession and supporting LGBT Asian American and South Asian attorneys in corporate, commercial, government, and public interest practice through networking receptions in three cities, including San Francisco. This year's reception is co-sponsored by AABA.
 
Thursday, October 27, 2016
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
405 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

BALIF Amicus Brief Archive Now Online
For more than thirty years, BALIF has been participating as amicus - a friend of the court - in major cases raising issues of concern to the LGBT community and our allies. Check out the new archive on BALIF's website, where you can learn more about BALIF's amicus participation and read BALIF's briefs on a wide range of issues, including: the rights of same-sex parents and partners; the unconstitutionality of state sodomy statutes; the interpretation of disability civil rights laws to people with HIV/AIDS; Don't Ask, Don't Tell; the scope of Title VII and other workplace protections for LGBTs under federal and California law; the asserted First Amendment rights of organizations that explicitly exclude LGBTs; marriage equality; medical care for transgender prisoners; and more.
 
Please contact BALIF's Amicus Committee Chair, Julie Wilensky, amicus@balif.org, with any questions about or additions to the archive.
We Want Your BALIFBuzz

We all love that section in our alumni newsletters that talks about who's doing what.

 

Well, we're introducing the BALIFBuzz to show-off all the great things that our members are doing.  BALIFBuzz will be appearing in the weekly BALIF newsletter.   

 

New job?

New client?

Promotion?

Court victory?

Significant settlement?

Baby on the way?

Recently married or engaged?

Speaking engagement?

Award, recognition, certification, or degree?  

Or anything else you're excited about...

 

Keep it to one or two lines.  Please send to membership@balif.org.

 

Can't wait to hear your great news!

 

Alex Touma

BALIF Membership Co-Chair

 

Job Postings Now on BALIF Website

All job postings can be found here!  

 

BALIF membership must be current to view the job postings. Simply log into the BALIF website with your membership ID and password, and select JOBS from the menu on the left.

October 4 - BALIF's Past, Present and Future
October 8 - RAZING THE BAR Event
October 13 - BALIF Fall Happy Hour
October 15 - BALIF Volunteer Day at National AIDS Memorial Grove
October 16- Bagels & Bubbly with Bisexuals in the Bay
Our 2016-2017 Sponsors
Partner Level

 
Counsel Level

A&P

Fenwick
HB Logo

 

Mofo
Sedgwick2
Seyfarth


Wilson

Advocate Level


Benefactor Level


Individual Sponsors

BALIF Board of Directors
Jessica Bogo & Peter Catalanotti
  
Julie Wilensky
Secretary & Amicus Chair

Mario Choi
Treasurer

Nick Clements
Judiciary Chair

Sarah Nicole Davis & 
John Unruh
Gala Co-Chairs  

 

Alex Touma
Shauna Madison

CCBA Chair

 
Stan Sarkisov
Communications Chair 

Jamie Dupree
Programs Chair

Ashley Pellouchoud & David Sims
Young Lawyers & Law Students Co-Chairs  

Daniel Faessler
Social Action Chair

Jennifer Orthwein
 
Lauren Pietsch
Lindsey Rosellini
Community Ambassador Chair  

Sam Potts & Stephan Ferris
Katie Carlson
BALIF Administrator 
Follow BALIF

youtube
 
BALIF Foundation


BALIF | | info@balif.org | http://www.balif.org
P.O. Box 193383
San Francisco, CA 94119