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Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom records
1999-80
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Title: Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom records
Dates: 1981-2001
Collection Number: 1999-80
Creator/Collector:
Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom
Extent: 14 cartons (14 linear feet)
Repository:
GLBT Historical Society
San Francisco, California 94103
Abstract: Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF) is the nation’s oldest and largest bar association of lesbians, gay men, bisexual
people, and transgender people in the field of law. The bulk of the collection covers the years 1981-1999. It includes organizational
records, board materials, correspondence, directories, financial records, materials related to the AIDS Legal Referral Panel,
amicus briefs, materials related to annual events and conferences, newsletters and other publications, public relations materials,
and subject files.
Language of Material: English
Collection is open for research.
[Identification of item]. Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom records. Collection Number: 1999-80. GLBT Historical Society
Biography/Administrative History
Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF) is the nation’s oldest and largest bar association of lesbians, gay men, bisexual
people, and transgender people in the field of law. Founded in 1980, BALIF represents its members’ interests in the wider
San Francisco Bay Area. BALIF members and supporters include San Francisco Bay Area judges, lawyers, law students and legal
workers.
BALIF also started the organization that grew to become the now-independent AIDS Legal Referral Panel, which has provided
free and low-cost legal assistance to over 50,000 people since it was founded in 1983.
BALIF’s mission has expanded. The group takes action on questions of law and justice that affect the queer community; strengthens
professional and social ties among queer members of the legal profession; builds coalitions with other legal organizations
to combat all forms of discrimination; promotes the appointment of queer attorneys to the judiciary, public agencies, and
commissions in the Bay Area; funds scholarships for queer law students and fellowships for public interest lawyers working
on queer issues; and provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and information of concern to members of the queer legal community.
BALIF also submits amicus briefs in cases affecting the queer community, sponsors resolutions to the Conference of Delegates
of California Bar Associations, provides queer-focused continuing legal education opportunities, and endorses candidates for
judicial offices and legal elected positions. BALIF is committed to building coalitions with other minority bars.
Scope and Content of Collection
The bulk of the collection covers the years 1981-1999. It includes organizational records, board materials, correspondence,
directories, financial records, materials related to the AIDS Legal Referral Panel, amicus briefs, materials related to annual
events and conferences, newsletters and other publications, public relations materials, and subject files. GSSO linked terms:
http://2Fpurl.obolibrary.org/obo/LifO_0000064; http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_003201
Law
Politics and elections