The Utah Center for Legal Inclusion, LGBTQ & Allied Lawyers of Utah, and the Utah State Bar were pleased to jointly host a CLE on legal issues related to LGBTQ+ families and individuals on December 9. This was a hybrid event, held in-person at the Law and Justice Center and streamed live on Zoom.
Eli McCann, current president of the LGBTQ & Allied Lawyers of Utah, opened the event and introduced the topic and presenter. The presenter was Chris Wharton, Attorney at Wharton Law and Salt Lake City Councilmember. Chris has worked extensively in LGBTQ+ advocacy, gaining local and national attention. In 2013, Chris helped lead a team of attorneys that submitted an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court, arguing for equal treatment of LGBT families under the law. In 2015, he obtained the first same-sex common law marriage adjudication in Utah. As an active community member, Chris has done pro bono work for the ACLU of Utah, Equality Utah, and the Rainbow Law Clinic. Chris also served on the first board of the LGBT & Allied Bar Association of Utah and on the Utah State Bar Board of Commissioners. His wealth of experience allowed him to provide detailed information on the topic, which was primarily an overview of the legal name and gender changes in Utah. He highlighted recent statutory changes and offered practical tips for helping transgender clients through the process. Engagement was high, and many questions were asked regarding the details of these legal processes. The event was well attended both in-person and online, and we were grateful for the many people who attended and for the donors and partners who made the event possible. Special thanks to the B. W. Bastian Foundation, for their grant to UCLI in 2024 which supports LGBTQ+ specific programming and initiatives.
Eli McCann, LALU President, introduces the event
Chris Wharton presents on legal name and gender changes in Utah
