I never dreamed I would see this day in my lifetime. It did not even occur to me as something to wish for.
At a historic meeting of more than 4100 lawyers across B.C. yesterday, lawyers voted overwhelmingly to direct the Benchers (governors of the legal profession) to rescind their accreditation of Trinity Western University's proposed law school. TWU requires its students to sign a covenant that they will not engage in sex outside of HETEROSEXUAL marriage. The Benchers had voted in April to accredit TWU notwithstanding the covenant. They defended their covenant on the basis of religious belief.
Mike Mulligan, a Victoria lawyer, petitioned the Law Society to hold yesterday's special general meeting. The meeting was four times larger than the largest meeting of BC lawyers ever.
About one lawyer out of three in the province participated in the vote.
I and many other lawyers (4:1 in the speakers' lines) spoke in favour of the motion. (starts at 1:23) And the result was overwhelming: 77% of the lawyers voted to direct the Benchers to rescind their approval of TWU.
The Benchers meet on Friday to decide what to do in the face of the unqualified rejection of their position by the legal profession. Yesterday's resolution is not binding on them; but if they do not substantially implement the resolution within one year, we can compel a binding referendum.
Today, I am fiercely proud of my colleagues in the bar who stood up for equality rights. It is a good day to be a lawyer.
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