A conversation with my friend and mentor, barbara findlay (she/her). For nearly five decades, barbara's worked tirelessly for LGBT rights in Canada. The episode was recorded in February 2025.

Our discussion ranged from the modern world we find ourselves in and how we got here to the homegrown transphobia right here in Canada, to galvanizing and taking action. barbara died on August 22, 2026 - this episode includes a closing tribute.

Timestamps

• 00:00 Cold open
• 00:58 Introduction and the political moment
• 02:32 Climate dread, fear, and the rise of right-wing populism
• 05:59 Trans rights in Canada
• 10:16 Saskatchewan's Bill 137 and the notwithstanding clause
• 13:28 The "people not like us" sentiment, and why Lawyers Against Transphobia operates with joy rather than righteousness
• 17:39 barbara's path from feminism to anti-racism work and finding agency
• 19:54 What listeners can do - locating yourself in systems of power
• 23:59 Building community
• 27:09 Tribute

Taking Action

https://www.repeal137.ca/action to send an email to your MLA insisting on repeal of Bill 137.

Transphobic Legal Actions in Canada

• https://egale.ca/egale-in-action/alberta-bill9-nov18/
• https://egale.ca/egale-in-action/sask-appeal-aug11/

Remembering barbara

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/barbara-findlay-lawyer-lgbtqia-advocate-mourned-9.7317710
• https://nationalmagazine.ca/en-ca/articles/people/2026/a-transformative-force-in-the-legal-profession
• https://egale.ca/egale-in-action/barbara-findlay-aug-24/
• https://xtramagazine.com/video/barbara-findlay-lawyer-obituary-284076