INTRODUCTION
Justice Joseph Callaghan is an openly gay judge currently sitting in the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto. He has progressed through his career following the principles of kindness and community.
ROAD TO THE BAR
Throughout his career, Justice Callaghan has carried the principles he learned from his parents. The throughline behind the decisions he has made is that kindness is a superpower, and that one should always do their best in any context to be kind.
Justice Callaghan grew up in Sarnia, Ontario, with his three siblings. When he was around 21 years old, he came out to his parents as gay. Not long after, Justice Callaghan’s younger brother Michael - the other Justice Callaghan - also came out.
His family responded with unconditional love. After he and his brother came out, his parents searched for a PFLAG chapter in Sarnia and, unable to find one locally, started their own. He has fond memories of watching his parents at the ‘batphone’ as they staffed the PFLAG chapter from their own home.
Justice Callaghan himself first became personally involved in the 2SLGBTQ+ community in law school, where he strove to support students who were facing the daunting and ongoing process of coming out. He knew that community and representation were crucial – people need to see examples of what is possible. At the time, 2SLGBTQ+ representation in the legal profession was minimal.
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