DOUGLAS JUDSON
<Contributor>
In July, I submitted a piece to my hometown newspapers in Northwestern Ontario. In my submission (full-text here), I explained how tremendously important it is for individuals and organizations to be deliberately accepting and welcoming of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and ally (LGBTQA) individuals, regardless of the known presence or absence of such individuals in their midst. In smaller centres, a developed set of LGBTQA interest groups, social networks, and corporate commitments may be lacking, and these elements are what set the tone for the community and create a visibly supportive environment for LGBTQA-identifying individuals. Ambivalent allies are simply no longer sufficient, especially for LGBTQ youth.
Over the two months that followed, LGBTQA issues were challenged on the opinion pages with a stream of selective literal readings from scripture, unprovoked defenses of personal beliefs, and even one honest-to-gosh-not-satirical analogy involving sheep. It was both ironic and disappointing to see such a hostile narrative emerge from a call for deliberate inclusiveness and acceptance.
Having traded in my Carhartts for more dapper finery many years ago, I can assure you that you are not alone if this reaction offends your cosmopolitan sensibilities. If anything, it demonstrates the ongoing need for organizations that seek to model acceptance and promote the celebration of diversity in our workplaces, community groups, and professions. Out On Bay Street fulfills this role by providing educational, mentoring, networking, and leadership opportunities for LGBTQA-identifying students and young professionals across the fields of business, law, and technology. In Canada’s marriage equality era, transplanting the values of pride and inclusion to the workplace and showcasing their role in creating value for organizations is an active frontier in the pursuit of LGBTQA recognition.
At Out On Bay Street’s September 7-8 annual conference, the legal arm of the organization’s sponsorship symbolized the importance that these leading firms place in recruiting LGBTQA personnel, the contributions of these individuals to corporate Canada, and the value of nurturing an inclusive workforce and supporting diversity initiatives. The sincerity of these corporate commitments is reflected not only in dollars and cents of sponsorship, but in the active participation of the LGBTQA individuals who represented their employers at the conference.
For student delegates, the ability to interact with lawyers from sponsor organizations in an environment where the default assumptions of sexual orientation are reversed necessitates candid discussions on meaningful recruitment and professional development issues, in the language of common experience and understanding. (Of course, it doesn’t hurt that this candour is garnished by a buffet of sartorial splendour either.)
This year, law student delegates attended a trio of workshops on professional development topics, from resume and interview insights (presented by Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt), to legal career options and planning (Heenan Blaikie), to an overview of different areas of practice commonly found at Bay Street firms (Blake, Cassels & Graydon). New this year, a panel also discussed the experience of being ‘out’ in Bay Street practice (presented by McCarthy Tétrault, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg, Torys, and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin). Panel attendees were captivated by this discussion, which was expertly moderated by Doug Elliott (of Roy Elliott O’Connor), the 2012 recipient of Out On Bay Street’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Fraser Milner Casgrain, as the leading law partner at Out On Bay Street’s annual conference, had its personnel visible throughout the conference events, while numerous other firms showcased their pride by participating in the career exhibition and networking sessions, highlighting their diversity initiatives and career opportunities to inquiring students.
In essence, it is the remarkable context, and not the content of Out On Bay Street’s conference that makes the experience so valuable and affirming for LGBTQA students and professionals. This environment provides a model for the wider community to emulate, especially in places where LGBTQA awareness is not as developed. The absence of open-arms to LGBTQA individuals in some pockets of society reinforces the need for our professions and our workplaces to continue to be role models in the community. These organizations positively shape the discussion that takes place around them.
The weekend after Out On Bay Street’s event, I returned to the Northwest, buoyed by a wonderful conference, yet wary of the wake my local boat-rocking had created. To my surprise, some positive ripples were spreading among the hostile waves. With the school year underway, the local GSA was invigorated, parents were reflecting on the messages they impart to their children, and individually, a smattering of small town allies spoke of how they were employing inclusiveness and recognition in their own circles. Amidst the noise, innovative community members were at work.
Out On Bay Street itself is but a social innovation with an earlier genesis. Its supporting organizations should take pride, and not only in their diversity championing and the opportunities they present for LGBTQA students and professionals. Clearly Bay Street’s inclusiveness shines brightly through their support and participation, but it is their solidarity that emboldens those who dare sparkle at other addresses.
Douglas Judson is a JD/MBA candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School and the Schulich School of Business. He currently serves as the Strategic Alliances Manager for Out On Bay Street and as co-chair of the OUTlaws, Osgoode’s LGBTQA organization. He is a former political aide and federal public servant with degrees in political science and commerce.