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Orange County Lavender Bar Association

OCLBA Statement Updated June 2023

The Orange County Lavender Bar Association (OCLBA) is the official association of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (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 LGBTQ+ 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 2023, OCLBA has focused on connecting with more community partners, including pro bono, and increasing its involvement with local law students. OCLBA members do pro bono work with the Transgender Legal Assistance Clinic (TLAC) each month. This year OCLBA is proud to sponsor a UCI law student to attend the American Bar Association’s Equal Justice Conference, where they will assist in presenting a panel on how other legal services organizations across the nation can start their own name and gender change clinics.

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. OCLBA looks forward to hosting its Thirteenth Anniversary Party on July 12 at the Park Plaza Commons in Irvine.

OCLBA also hosted its annual Harvey Milk Day MCLE Luncheon on May 22 and will be holding a National Coming Out Day event in October.

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 Michael Olsen at MOlsen@kadingbriggs.com.

Recent News & Event Photos

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