X

Orange County Lavender Bar Association

OCLBA Statement Updated June 2022

The Orange County Lavender Bar Association (OCLBA) is the official association of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ), and allied attorneys, judges, and law students in the county. OCLBA provides networking, educational, and mentorship opportunities and resources to its membership and the community with the goal of increasing the county’s participation in the broader statewide LGBTQ community and the visibility of LGBTQ issues in the county.

OCLBA launched on June 16, 2010, at a gala attended by 200 attorneys, philanthropists, business and community leaders, judges, professors, and students. The gala featured remarks by the attorneys who completed closing arguments in the landmark Perry v. Schwarzenegger case, which challenged Proposition 8 in federal court. Since then, the annual gala has provided the opportunity to celebrate advances in LGBT legal protections in California and across the nation, including the legalization of same-sex marriage. OCLBA’s Board of Directors, which includes representatives from private practice and academia, continue to implement a robust series of MCLE programs. These programs include a number of highly successful events ranging from constitutional law to tax and estate planning to addressing bias issues.

For 2022, OCLBA has focused on increasing in-person events to allow all members to reconnect professionally.

Since its founding, each summer, the OCLBA hosts its annual Anniversary Gala honoring community and legal leaders in the fight for justice and equality. OCLBA also awards its M. Katherine B. Darmer Equality Scholarship to a law student committed to LGBTQ issues in Orange County. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, OCLBA looks forward to hosting its annual anniversary party this month on July 13.

OCLBA hosted its annual Harvey Milk Day Luncheon on May 20 and will also be holding a National Coming Out Day event in October. Stay tuned for more details. OCLBA members also do pro bono work with the Transgender Legal Assistance Clinic each month.

OCLBA seeks to serve and unite not just the LGBTQ community but our allies as well. For more information, please visit www.oclba.org or email OCLBA President Casey Johnson at casey@aitkenlaw.com.

Recent News & Event Photos

For more information about upcoming events, visit www.oclba.org.