It was started 40 years ago to encourage LGBTQ legal professionals to apply for judgeships, and while there are many queer bench officers in California today, that's still a core part of Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom's mission.To mark the milestone anniversary, LGBTQ judges, their straight allies, attorneys, and others will gather Friday, March 6, for BALIF's annual gala. "We've had an annual event more or less for BALIF's entire existence," queer BALIF board co-chair Jeff Kosbie said