#OBAProud to wear #RainbowTabs
Pictured from (L to R): Rebecca Hines, OBA President Lynne Vicars, Chief Justice George Strathy, SOGIC Chair Hossein Moghtaderi, and Lilia Azatian.
Statement from Chief Justice George Strathy:
As we celebrate Pride month in June, and as local communities across Ontario celebrate Pride throughout the summer, I am pleased to join the Ontario Bar Association in supporting diversity and inclusion in the legal community. The Charter provides for equal protection and benefit of the law, and by wearing Rainbow Tabs, we are reminded of the important work that has been, and continues to be, done in this regard. I thank the OBA’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Section for their leadership in this initiative.
LILIA AZATIAN
WHO ARE YOU, AND HOW ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH THE OBA?
My name is Lilia Azatian. I am lawyer in the city of Toronto and happily serve the post of Newsletter Editor for my Section, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law (“SOGIC”), at the Ontario Bar Association (“OBA”).
WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WEAR #RAINBOWTABS?
I am a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. It is an honour to commemorate Pride Month by featuring the colours of the rainbow in my traditional Barrister attire.
HOW CAN YOU, YOUR COLLEAGUES AND OTHERS, SHARE YOUR #OBAPRIDE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR?
Pride Month celebrates equality, inclusion, and diversity. As such issues surrounding the latter are not truly balanced, efforts must continue all year long. Therefore, I do my part, by speaking and educating my networks about LGBTQ+ issues, through educational forums. I am hopeful that information sharing creates dialogue, which, in turn may create a sympathy led change towards a truly equal society.
REBECCA HINES
WHO ARE YOU, AND HOW ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH THE OBA?
My name is Rebecca (Becky) Hines. I am a lawyer in the City of Toronto and am involved with the OBA as a member-at-large of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law section (“SOGIC”).
WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WEAR #RAINBOWTABS?
I am a proud and staunch ally of the LGBTQ+ community. I wear the #RainbowTabs to show my support for the community and for diversity and inclusion in the profession.
HOW CAN YOU, YOUR COLLEAGUES AND OTHERS, SHARE YOUR #OBAPRIDE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR?
We can educate ourselves on the issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community and participate in events and initiatives that are geared toward safeguarding and moving the needle forward with respect to LGBTQ+ rights.
HOSSEIN MOGHTADERI
WHO ARE YOU, AND HOW ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH THE OBA?
I have the pleasure of serving as Chair of OBA SOGIC this year. I have been involved with SOGIC since my law school days.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WEAR #RAINBOWTABS?
As a proud gay lawyer, I want to showcase my PRIDE and celebrate our profession’s diversity and support of the LGBTQ2S community.
HOW CAN YOU, YOUR COLLEAGUES AND OTHERS, SHARE YOUR #OBAPRIDE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR?
As a proud gay lawyer, I want to showcase my PRIDE and celebrate our profession’s diversity and support of the LGBTQ2S community.
