Judson recognized for leadership in 2SLGBTQ+ rights advocacy

Announcement

For immediate release: July 27, 2025

On July 17, 2025, the Canadian Association of LGBTQ2S+ Lawyers (CALL) recognized Douglas W. Judson with its annual award for Local Leadership in 2SLGBTQ+ Rights Advocacy. This award is presented as part of CALL's national legal conference, and is designated for a lawyer who has shown exceptional vision, leadership, and impact on 2SLGBTQ+ issues.

Doug is a partner with Judson Howie LLP in Fort Frances, Ontario. His nomination—which was submitted with the support of 2SLGBTQ+ Pride organizers in Northwestern Ontario and queer lawyers from various cities—highlighted his recent successes advancing defamation claims to protect members of the drag and gender diverse communities, his advocacy to ensure that municipalities provide services without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, his efforts to highlight local trans history, and to promote Pride, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation through through his volunteer work on several boards and committees in the region and through his time as one of the only 'out' elected officials in the region from 2018 to 2022.

CALL's 2025 awards were presented at its annual Prisme legal conference, this year hosted at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. We congratulate all of the this year's award recipients, and would like to especially recognize Ljiljana Stanic, who was awarded this year's Laleh Moshiri Ally Award. Ljiljana was co-counsel to our firm on a recent motion in which the court ruled that baseless smears targeting members of the drag community were not protected public interest speech.

Judson Howie LLP is very proud to be at the forefront of impactful and precedent-setting 2SLGBTQ+ legal advocacy in Canada.

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Quote:

"Pride is needed most where it is least visible—often in places with limited access to justice and fewer advocates equipped to take on queer issues. But legal victories alone aren’t enough; we need visible champions unapologetically shifting culture in the communities they come from. 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. Our presence signals their safety, inspires openness and confidence, and builds stronger allies in their midst. That's what this work is about."

—Douglas W. Judson

Inquiries:

Inquiries can be directed to info@judsonhowie.ca