FEB. 27, 2014 - San Francisco - Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF) thanks members of the Minority Bar Coalition (MBC) in joining BALIF in urging Governor Jan Brewer to veto legislation passed by the Arizona state legislature last Thursday that, under the guise of religious freedom, would enable discrimination against individuals who identify as LGBT.  Governor Brewer announced her veto earlier yesterday.

"We thank our Minority Bar Coalition allies for standing with us.  It is clear that the bill was vetoed in part because Governor Brewer feared the political backlash caused by pressure by organizations like ours," said Jamie Dupree, BALIF Board Co-Chair.  "We must remain vigilant as similar bills across the country are still pending."

The Asian American Prosecutors Association, Asian Pacific Bar Association of Silicon Valley, South Asian Bar Association of Northern California, Korean American Bar Association of Northern California, Vietnamese American Bar Association of Northern California, Filipino Bar Association of Northern California, Queen's Bench Bar Association, East Bay La Raza Lawyers Association, Board Members of the Iranian American Bar Association, Northern California, La Raza Lawyers Association of California and Thai American Attorneys of Northern California are among the MBC members who stood with BALIF to condemn the legislation. These bar associations have a long-standing commitment to supporting the civil rights of all members of our community.