By Stephanie Hayne
With messy, sandy-coloured hair, small, wire-framed glasses and a shy smile, this 34-year-old New Zealander looks like he could grace the cover of a magazine. Truth be told, he’s made front page news more than a few times in the past 10 years.
But it wasn’t his boyish good looks that got him the kind of media attention usually reserved for movie stars.
No – this quiet, unassuming man didn’t ask to be a celebrity. When you’re one of Canada’s leading gay rights activists, it just comes with the territory.
As executive director of Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere (EGALE), John Fisher has traveled the country working for change. But don’t ask him what he’s working on right now. He’ll rattle off a list of issues so complex and controversial it would make your head spin: Alberta’s human rights legislation, same-sex relationship legislation, hate crimes and transgendered rights issues.
In fact, just a couple of weeks ago Fisher was in Toronto, sitting in the congregation at Metropolitan Community Church. He says witnessing the first homosexual wedding ceremonies in Canada was a remarkable experience.
“There was an electric feeling inside the church and at numerous times throughout the ceremony, the congregation rose spontaneously to its feet and started cheering,” says Fisher. “I was proud to be a part of it.”
“But it was a bit of a bitter-sweet occasion,” he adds, commenting on the years of work that lie ahead. EGALE will be helping the couples battle the Ontario government, which Fisher says won’t accept the validity of the marriages.
Although it’s frustrating, he says Canada is ahead of his homeland in terms of equality.
“New Zealand doesn’t have the same kind of constitution,” he says. “It can’t be used to alter legislation, so they haven’t had the same kinds of tools to challenge their laws.”
As his interest in gay rights grew stronger, so did Fisher’s curiosity about Canada and Canadian law. He moved here in 1991 to do a master’s degree in lesbian and gay rights and international law.
So, how does one go from Queen’s University master’s student to high-profile national gay rights defender?
“It’s not something I would have predicted,” he says. “I fell into what I’m doing now by chance and it’s kept me engaged and interested for the past seven years.”
Just after graduation Fisher was offered a job by Ottawa-based lawyer Phillip MacAdam who has a large gay and lesbian clientele.
“I wasn’t sure I was going to stay in Canada. In fact, I was planning to go back to New Zealand, but then I thought it would be great to work with Phil,” says Fisher.
MacAdam would be the first to say he’s glad Fisher decided to call Canada home.
“We wouldn’t be where we are today without John.”
MacAdam remembers when Fisher first came to work for him. “He didn’t know how to dress. It would be 30 below and he would walk into the office with his coat wide open. He would catch a cold, of course, but he’d just carry on like normal.”
MacAdam chuckles. “That’s just typical.”
But he sighs when he remembers Fisher leaving his firm and going to work for EGALE. “The legal profession really lost out the day he left to do gay activism full-time.”
In this case, however, one man’s loss meant a nation’s gain. Since 1994, Fisher has worked tirelessly to further the gay rights movement in Canada.
“I think no matter where I lived, I’d want to be involved and doing something to make a difference. That kind of thing is just important to me,” he says.
Although he dove head first into the profession, his career with EGALE had humble beginnings.
“My initial agreement with them was that I would take a percentage of what they made,” he says. “So, if the organization raised money, I would get paid. If it didn’t, I wouldn’t.”
Some would call that noble. Not Fisher.
“I felt it was important that there be action to remedy some of the injustice I saw. In a way, I couldn’t not get involved,” he says, shaking his head as if to suggest it was no big deal.
“I don’t think what I’m doing is different from what anybody else is doing.”
Laurie Arron, vice-president of EGALE, says it’s typical of Fisher not to take the credit he deserves. But Arron isn’t afraid to give it to him
“John has built the organization. He’s somebody who’s very committed to the work he does and he’s incredible at getting things done,” says Arron. “He’s a great guy, a great peacemaker and a great diplomat.”
Arron says the only way to understand Fisher’s dedication is to look at a case they once worked on together. The court broke for lunch and a small group from EGALE was heading out to a local restaurant. Fisher noticed Gwen Landolt from REAL Women — an organization that Arron says opposes gay and lesbian equality — talking to a reporter. Fisher jumped between the reporter and Landolt and starting telling his side of the situation.
“He’s always focused on what he can do to further the cause,” says Arron. “In typical fashion, I don’t think he even ate lunch that day.”
MacAdam also recalls Fisher’s devotion.
“There were mornings where I would come in and find that John had been there all night. He hadn’t even gone to sleep,” he says.
So, what does this superhero do when he gets a moment’s rest?
He sings with the Ottawa Gay Mens Chorus, spends time with his partner of five and a half years and cuddles with his two cats.
Most of the time, though, Fisher concentrates on his work.
He pauses and thinks about what his wish list for the future. It’s like he’s thought about it every day for the past 10 years and yet never come up with an answer.
“I don’t think there’s any one or two things that make for a transformed society. I think social change is something that happens gradually, piece by piece,” he says.
“I guess I’d like to see a society where we don’t always have to struggle against all these barriers and try to convince people that we have a right to equality.”
Then — as if a lightbulb goes off inside his head — he suddenly knows what he’d wish for.
“I’d like nothing better than to put EGALE out of business and feel that there wasn’t a need for an organization like this.”
Typical.