FORT FRANCES — Being recognized on a national level was not a part of the plan for a Northwestern Ontario law firm.
On July 17, the Canadian Association of LGBTQ2S+ Lawyers recognized Fort Frances lawyer Douglas Judson with their annual award for local leadership in 2SLGBTQ+ rights advocacy.
“Being a legal advocate in my view wouldn't be very fulfilling if we weren't able to find ways to do advocacy for communities that we care about,” he said.
Judson’s nomination was submitted with the support of Pride organizers in Northwestern Ontario and queer lawyers from various cities.
The nomination highlighted Judson’s recent successes in advancing defamation claims to protect members of the drag and gender-diverse communities, his advocacy to ensure that municipalities provide services without discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, and his efforts to highlight local transgender history.
“I think it's really important to find ways to give back in our practices by advocating for issues impacting the community,” he said.
“Many queer advocates come from small towns, remote areas, or cultural and faith communities where visible symbols of Pride are still missing, or controversial. Our duty as 2SLGBTQIA+ adults is to fix that — to show up and set an example — because someone there needs to see us fighting for them, or even just thriving as our true selves."
Judson additionally volunteers for several boards and committees in the region.
“Our presence signals their safety, inspires openness and confidence, and builds stronger allies in their midst. That is what this work is about," he said.
The annual award conference was hosted at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, where Judson shared the stage with his former office neighbour Ljiljana Stanic, who was awarded this year's Laleh Moshiri Ally Award.
“LJ and I started practicing together in the same year at McCarthy's before I moved back to Northwestern Ontario and we had the opportunity to work together recently on an anti-SLAPP motion, in which the court just determined that it was not a matter of public interest express to say these incredibly defamatory things about members of the drag community,” he said.
“It is just funny how when you join a profession like this, the world grows a little bit smaller in some ways, and you see the same faces continuing to find ways to do this important work."
Judson said he plans on continuing his work in Northwestern Ontario, advocating for community members in minority groups.
“I think that there’s no greater joy in the practice of law than when we can find work that is personally fulfilling and interesting like this. And so, to achieve recognition for that is its icing on the cake really, and I'm very touched by it."
