IE attorneys start Pride Bar Association

A group of local attorneys have incorporated a bar association focusing on LGBTQ+ advocacy, education and mentorship. 

Veronica Garcia, a principal attorney in the effort and the association’s co-vice president, submitted the documents recognizing the Pride Bar Association of the Inland Empire as a nonprofit on June 17.

With four events already held, the bar association will meet again on Friday, July 18, to view the rock musical We Will Rock You at Claremont Pomona College’s Sontag Greek Theater. 

“This is really a place for everyone, anyone who’s an ally,” Garcia said by phone.

“It’s not just for paralegals and lawyers and legal professionals. We have a membership tier for community partners, so not just people who are in the legal community. Anyone who can help us.”

Garcia and President Dean McVay both have large ambitions for the Pride Bar Association.

Garcia intends the association to provide scholarships to students, build community among LGBTQ+ individuals, host quarterly events, educate attorneys on how to handle legal issues faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, and build mentorships.

“We can train attorneys who maybe do a completely different type of work, who want to give back to that community, but may not have the training to do so,” Garcia said.

McVay said he would like the association to host workshops to assist people with anti-bullying protective orders and to help people dying of HIV/AIDS to get their affairs in order. Most importantly, he wants to advocate for LGBTQ+ people’s civil rights.

“We’re trying to help bring some light and helpful assistance and education to this community. That’s my goal,” he said.

The bar association officers have already hosted four events. On June 26, members attended a mixer co-sponsored by Inland Counties Legal Services, US Bank and the Hispanic Bar Association of the Inland Empire. On June 18 they held an MCLE training co-sponsored by the Western San Bernardino County Bar Association regarding life as a transgender or non-binary lawyer. Attorneys Madison Fairchild and Daniel Avila from LA, and Pride Bar Association Boardmember, L Orozco, spoke. On June 14, members attended Pride Night at Ophelia’s Jump Theater, in Upland. On March 19, the association held a fundraising night with bingo at Hamburger Mary’s, raising $2,000.

“It’s a very active board, a very passionate board, very energized. I’m very proud of our board,” said McVay.

Garcia opened the association’s bank account a week ago, so there are no paying members yet—but their email list has 35 members.

“There really is a really large population—it’s not like we asked and nobody stepped up. There are tons of lawyers, paralegals, law students, that are really excited and have said this is a need that has been unfulfilled for a very long time. So we took the opportunity, and with the current climate, the longer we wait, the more difficult it will be,” Garcia said.

McVay said the Pride Bar Association is necessitated by a need to protect LGBTQ+ rights in an increasingly hostile environment. Anti-gay discrimination is not as blatant now as it was in the mid-90’s, he said. Then, his managing attorney told him she hoped his anniversary roses were not sent by a man, because they did not hire gay attorneys. But behind the scenes, children are considering whether to come out or to attempt suicide, and they are often being actively discouraged from doing so, he said. School districts are implementing forced outing policies, Florida has banned discussion of sexual orientation in schools, and the federal government is removing the names of gay and transgender people from their online accounts of history, he said. 

“There’s a huge need for people in our community to stand up to the wrongs that are happening. I see it as a civil rights movement, as it was in the 60’s and 70’s,” McVay said.

Membership fees will be $100 annually. People interested in joining can email McVay at Dean.McVay@lewisbrisbois.com, Garcia at vgarcia@icls.org, visit the website, or follow the Facebook account.