Inland Counties Legal Services is honored to award the Pride Bar Association of the Inland Empire as its Community Partner of the Year, for working toward a safer, more inclusive future for LGBTQ+ residents and professionals.
The Pride Bar Association was launched earlier this year to focus on LGBTQ+ inclusivity, education, and mentorship, giving LGBTQ+ attorneys, legal staff, and allies a place to belong.
Many of the people who helped create the Pride Bar Association have personal experiences reflecting the unfortunate reality that the legal profession has historically been, and still can be, very challenging for LGBTQ+ professionals to navigate.
“While I’m thankful for the many supporters I’ve had throughout the years, I’ve also faced my share of discrimination and hostility. As a new attorney, I was told by my former firm’s managing partner I wouldn’t be welcome at my firm if I was gay,” explained Pride Bar President, Dean McVay. “I don’t want anyone to feel the sting of discrimination that I’ve experienced, and I hope Pride Bar will be a place to address these challenges for our community and the next generation of legal professionals.”
Guided by Dean McVay’s leadership, Pride Bar’s Board of Directors brings together legal professionals from across the region, including the Honorable Lisa Rogan, six ICLS attorneys, and other distinguished leaders in the legal field. Pride Bar offers MCLE workshops for legal professionals on LGBTQ+ issues in the workplace and for clients.
Earlier this year, they co-hosted a panel discussion, Life as a Transgender or Non-Binary Lawyer, with the Western San Bernardino County Bar Association. These conversations are important to ensure all perspectives and identities are welcome in the legal profession. Their next event, scheduled for October 16, is aimed to support for our LGBTQ+ community by providing a state of the law update, cultural competency training, and highlighting pro bono and other opportunities to create meaningful action.
Not only does the Pride Bar make people feel like they belong, but it also helps organizations like ours better serve LGBTQ+ clients.
While Riverside and San Bernardino Counties have one of the largest LGBTQ+ communities in the state, there previously were not any legal aid organizations providing LGBTQ+ centered services, like Gender Marker Name Changes and Advance Health Care Directives. That’s why the launch of ICLS’s LGBTQ+ Services Program resonated with so many, making them feel seen, heard, and understood while navigating these legal processes.
ICLS is currently in the process of starting up a project centered around people living with HIV/AIDS, making sure they can access and afford health care, as well as end-of-life planning. The Pride Bar Association is already planning an event highlighting this important work to make sure those living with HIV/AIDS can access life-saving treatment and live life on their terms.
We are proud to celebrate the contributions of the Pride Bar Association of the Inland Empire and look forward to strengthening our roots in the local LGBTQ+ community.