Barbara Findlay faced involuntary psychiatric admission in her youth after disclosing her attraction to women to a psychiatrist due to being queer, a period when homosexuality was considered a mental illness in Canada during the early 1970s. To practice law, she had to provide a “sanity certificate” before being called to the bar, as noted in her honorary degree citation from Simon Fraser University in 2023. Despite these challenges, Findlay dedicated her life to advocating for human rights and passed away at 77 after battling a long illness, leaving British Columbia’s 2SLGBTQ+ community in mourning.
Fellow activist Shantel Ivits praised Findlay’s resistance to labels, highlighting her lifelong work in dismantling societal constraints. Findlay’s distinctive lowercase name spelling, a choice she made in law school and maintained despite pushback, became symbolic of her defiance against norms. Her activism, along with her unconventional name styling, garnered attention and respect within the community.
Known for her pivotal role in advancing LGBTQ+ rights, Findlay worked on groundbreaking legal cases, particularly related to 2SLGBTQ+ issues. Her advocacy efforts ranged from securing recognition for both lesbian co-parents on birth certificates to advocating for the inclusion of a transgender youth in a Catholic school setting. Over the years, Findlay received accolades for her legal work, including being named Queen’s Counsel in 2001, receiving a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013, and being honored with various awards for her distinguished service.
In addition to her legal contributions, Findlay co-founded Lawyers Against Transphobia and actively volunteered with organizations like the Rainbow Refugee Committee. Remembered as a tenacious community advocate by those she mentored and collaborated with, Findlay’s impact extended far beyond her legal achievements. Ivits recalled a conversation with Findlay where she expressed a belief in returning as “thunder and lightning,” a sentiment seemingly manifested on the night of her passing through a magnificent thunderstorm, symbolizing her enduring legacy as a force of nature.