Tribute to barbara findlay
- 5 hours ago
- 1 min read
Written by QMUNITY's Director of Legal Services Didi Dufresne:
We here at QMUNITY join in mourning the passing of barbara findlay, KC. It’s clear that throughout her life barbara has made tremendous impacts on all of those around her. She has been a mentor for so many of us queer lawyers and activists, and her legal work has profoundly benefited the lives of queer and trans people in Canada. It is not possible to overstate her dedication in making queer and trans lives, whether through litigating for same-sex marriages, trans rights, or queer parents or through her community organizing against discrimination of any sort.
Recently, barbara has been outspoken about the precarious legal and political situation we find ourselves in as queers in Canada with the increasing use of the notwithstanding clause in the Charter that allows governments to enact laws even though they violate someone’s Charter rights. At QMUNITY, we enjoyed barbara’s support in starting our legal clinic and in partnering on legal education for trans rights. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. It’s possible to reflect on what we have lost with barbara’s passing, but we also can look to how barbara’s life has shaped us and continues on in the work that we do now and in the future.
