LEGIT explained

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]} 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^{[5] [6] [7]} by a group of Canadians who had non-Canadian partners, including Christine Morrissey and Douglas Saunders, a law professor.^{[5] [6]} 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.^[8] 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.

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.^{[9] [10]}

External links

• LEGIT Canada

Notes and References

1. News: 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. Nolen. S.. 7 April 1999. The Globe and Mail.
2. LaViolette . Nicole . Coming Out to Canada: The Immigration of Same-Sex Couples Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act . McGill Law Journal . 2004 . 49 . 4 .
3. News: Immigration grey areas ensnare gay couple. Foss. K.. 8 June 2002. The Globe and Mail.
4. News: Speaking at Pride House is historic, bittersweet moment for Tewksbury; Decorated Olympic swimmer and gay athlete hopes pavilion creates awareness. Woo. A.. 19 February 2010. The Vancouver Sun.
5. LaViolette 2004, p. 174
6. Book: White . Melissa Autumn . Feminist (Im)Mobilities in Fortress(ing) North America . 2016 . Routledge . 9781317135760 . 150 . https://books.google.com/books?id=OX4GDAAAQBAJ&q=LEGIT&pg=PA150 . 18 April 2020 . Governing Queer Intimacies at the US-Canada Border.
7. Book: Warner . Thomas E. . Never Going Back: A History of Queer Activism in Canada . 2002 . University of Toronto Press . 9780802084606 . 244 . 18 April 2020.
8. News: Activist crusades to open Canada's doors to LGBTQ refugees. Carman. T. 1 July 2015. Vancouver Sun. 2 January 2020.
9. News: Watchdog group keeping same-sex immigration LEGIT. Rossi. C.. 18 May 2005. Vancouver Courier.
10. Wilms. M.. 2005. Canadian Immigration Law & Same-Sex Partners. Canadian Issues. 17–20. .