LEGIT (Lesbian and Gay Immigration Task Force) is a Canadian organization founded in 1991 that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual immigration equality and provides immigration information to same-sex couples.[1][2][3][4][5] LEGIT was part of high profile legal challenges pushing Canada to allow immigration of same-sex partners.

History

LEGIT was founded in December 1991 in Vancouver as a grassroots lobbying group[6][7][8] by a group of Canadians who had non-Canadian partners, including Christine Morrissey and Douglas Saunders, a law professor.[6][7] The group led some of the first legal challenges to Canada's immigration laws related to same sex relationships, including a legal challenge to the denial of the immigration application of an Irish-American woman in a relationship with Canadian Christine Morrissey.[2][4] The legal challenges in the early 1990s argued that individuals were being discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation, in contradiction to Canada's Charter or Rights and Freedoms.[2][4]

In the early 2000s, LEGIT representatives advocated for same-sex inclusive immigration laws in policy creation proceedings, contributing to Canada expanding its immigration laws to be inclusive of lesbian and gay family immigration.[2][4][9][10]

References

  1. ↑ Nolen, S. (7 April 1999). "Why gay couples must flee to Canada: Marriage guarantees someone from abroad a future in the U.S. But if you're gay, you'll have to leave". The Globe and Mail.
  2. 1 2 3 4 LaViolette, Nicole (2004). "Coming Out to Canada: The Immigration of Same-Sex Couples Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act" (PDF). McGill Law Journal. 49 (4).
  3. ↑ Foss, K. (8 June 2002). "Immigration grey areas ensnare gay couple". The Globe and Mail.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Carman, T (1 July 2015). "Activist crusades to open Canada's doors to LGBTQ refugees". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  5. ↑ Woo, A. (19 February 2010). "Speaking at Pride House is historic, bittersweet moment for Tewksbury; Decorated Olympic swimmer and gay athlete hopes pavilion creates awareness". The Vancouver Sun.
  6. 1 2 LaViolette 2004, p. 174
  7. 1 2 White, Melissa Autumn (2016). "Governing Queer Intimacies at the US-Canada Border". Feminist (Im)Mobilities in Fortress(ing) North America. Routledge. p. 150. ISBN 9781317135760. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  8. ↑ Warner, Thomas E. (2002). Never Going Back: A History of Queer Activism in Canada. University of Toronto Press. p. 244. ISBN 9780802084606. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  9. ↑ Rossi, C. (18 May 2005). "Watchdog group keeping same-sex immigration LEGIT". Vancouver Courier.
  10. ↑ Wilms, M. (2005). "Canadian Immigration Law & Same-Sex Partners". Canadian Issues: 17–20. ProQuest 208687303.
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