BALIF’s first-ever "Homecoming"

BALIF welcomes back 32 years of BALIF alumni to reconnect, reminisce, and celebrate how far we've come. This event will inspire us all to remember how BALIF has impacted our lives, both individually and collectively.

Rob Fratto remembers how BALIF brought him out of the closet…

“The 2011 BALIF Pride Breakfast was not only the first BALIF event I attended, but also the first professional event I attended as gay identified. As someone who was new to the San Francisco LGBT community (and LGBT community in general), it was a huge step for me in presenting my authentic self to the world. Within minutes, I met On Lu, was introduced to many others, and was invited to march with BALIF in the parade that morning. I spent much of the day with my new BALIF friends and left feeling so proud to be associated with such a wonderful community in San Francisco.”

Dominic Campodonico, Partner at Gordon & Rees LLP, remembers how BALIF empowered him…

“I attended my first BALIF event prior to starting law school. It was an incredibly empowering experience, particularly as I had recently come out of the closet. Stereotypes were shattered, networking connections were made, and I learned about various legal issues that impact the LGBT community. I cannot think of a single better resource for local LGBT legal professionals and law students to collaborate, network, and socialize.”

San Francisco Chief Deputy City Attorney Therese Stewart remembers how BALIF provided her the foundation for becoming a successful advocate for LGBT civil rights…

“I joined BALIF my first year in practice in 1983. It was a new organization then, and still small. It was an easy way to get to know other lesbian and gay lawyers at a time when many were in the closet professionally. For out attorneys, BALIF provided tremendous opportunities to develop leadership skills. I first volunteered to serve on the Programs Committee, where I learned how to organize events. That led to my chairing that committee and not much later to serving on the BALIF Board. As a representative of BALIF, I became involved in the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF), serving on its Minority Hiring Committee. I "crashed" that committee and, as requested by BALIF, endeavored to inject LGBT issues into the committee's agenda. Failing that, I worked within BASF to create and co-chair its Sexual Orientation committee. In 1991, that Committee produced the first set of guidelines for law firms on LGBT diversity, which in turn led many San Francisco firms to adopt domestic partner benefits. Next I was asked to serve on the BASF Board, and ultimately became the first openly gay President of BASF. Without a doubt, BALIF provided me with the foundation for becoming a successful advocate for LGBT civil rights.”

Rob Depew, Employment Law Associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, remembers how being involved with organizing BALIF events more than 11 years ago led him to the love of his life…

“I first joined BALIF in 1999 during my first year of law school at UC Hastings, and I am so glad that I did. In addition to meeting countless friends and mentors through BALIF, I also met my husband David Augustine at a BALIF law student mixer in September 2001 when he was a third year law student at Stanford. I organized that student mixer with my BALIF co-chair of student events, Rebecca Prozan, for the ostensible purpose of introducing law students to attorney mentors. However, as David likes to point out, it was pretty clear that many of the students were more interested in finding dates than mentors at the event (including and especially the two of us). We fell in love while playing hooky from school and biking to Black Sands beach in Marin, eating David's homemade waffles, reading the NYT and studying for the bar exam together. Now, 11 years later, we have been married three times (to each other) and are the proud and delighted parents of a new baby girl – Kimaya Grace.”

The below blurb is from Andrew Foster Shi, associate at Pond North LLP…

“BALIF has been an incredibly valuable resource for me. After graduating from law school in Oklahoma, I relocated to San Francisco without knowing anyone in the area. Besides providing me with a wealth of advice, mentorship and camaraderie, BALIF’s members also were so generous in helping me network with and connect to the San Francisco legal community that I was able to secure a position as an associate attorney before I had even received my bar results. It is only because of the strong support system I found in BALIF that I am able to call the Bay Area my home, and for that, I am more than happy to celebrate [in this year’s Homecoming event.]”

RSVP at balif.org/homecoming now!