GEORGE HISLOP

GEORGE HISLOP Canada's leading gay rights activist. George Hislop died peacefully on Saturday, October 8, 2005 at Toronto Grace Hospital, on Church Street. George was born in Swansea (now Toronto) on June 3, 1927, the youngest son of John Hislop and Ada (Moffitt) Hislop. George said that he never came out of the closet because he was never in it. He always knew he was gay, and his family always loved him unconditionally. George studied theater at the University of Toronto, and spent his early years in the 1950's working on stage and in television in London and Toronto. He met his great love, Ronald Shearer, at Hanlan's Point in 1958. They were inseparable until Ronald's untimely death in 1986 from complications following cardiac surgery. George worked at a variety of jobs over the years. For a time, George and Ronnie operated a design business together. George also operated a number of other businesses over the years, including Crispin's Restaurant, Buddy's Bar, the Selby Hotel and Boots Bar, Bar racks Baths, Robert's Restaurant, Rogues bar, Rawhide and George's Townhouse. He was editor of Sightlines and Esprit magazines. George took an early interest in gay rights activism, in which he played a leadership role all his life. He was cofounder of the University of Toronto Homophile Association in 1969, and the Community Homophile Association of Toronto in 1971. He helped organize the first gay rights demonstration on Parliament Hill in 1971. He and Ronnie were the first openly gay couple in Canada, and were featured on national television and in Maclean's magazine. George was the first openly gay candidate for public office in Canada, r unning for alderman in 1980 and for the provincial legislature in 1981. George was charged as a 'keeper' during the notorious bath house raids of 1981, and he was a leader in the successful resistance to that persecution. He also lobbied Parliament for inclusion of gays and lesbians in the Charter of Rights, and fought for the inclusion of sexual orientation in Ontario's Human Rights Code. George was also concerned with health issues affecting the LGBT community. He was on the Board of the AIDS Committee of Toronto in the 1980's. George was the first President of the Hassle Free Clinic, a post he continued to hold at his death. In 2003, at the age of 76, he spearheaded a national class action for CPP same sex survivor's pensions which resulted in the largest class action trial judgment in Canadian legal history, and the first such award in the world for gays and lesbians. The trial judge rightly described George as a 'legend'. He pursued all of his causes with courageous persistence, with tremendous charm and great humour. George also ser ved the City of Toronto as a member of the Planning Advisory Board and later the Committee of Adjustments for many years, the first openly gay person to be appointed to civic office in Canada. George was proud to serve the city he loved so much. He was a well-known amateur historian. The City acknowledged his lifelong contribution by the creation of the George Hislop Park in the heart of Toronto's lesbian and gay community. George was honoured with many awards from his city and his community. He was recognized as a community hero by the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto, and was Grand Marshall of the Pride Parade in 2004. In 2005, he became the first recipient of the Karl Heinrich Ulrichs Award from the International Lesbian and Gay Law Association in recognition of his lifetime contribution to the worldwide movement for lesbian and gay equality. George was predeceased by Ronnie, by his parents and his two older brothers, John and William. George's death is a great loss to his many friends in the LGBT community and beyond, around the world. He is lovingly missed by his dear friend and volunteer caregiver, Christopher Hudspeth, and by his nephews and nieces, Jim Hislop and his wife Wendy of Mississauga, John and his wife Gail Hislop, Bruce Hislop, Ann Norquay and husband John, Jo Ann Hislop, and Susan Holmstorom and husband Jim and by many grand nephews and grand nieces. They were always proud of Uncle George. Friends may call at the RosarMorrison Funeral Home and Chapel, 467 Sherbourne Street (South of Wellesley) on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 and on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 from 6 until 9 p.m. A Party and Tribute to George's life will be held on November 6, 2005 at a location to be announced. There will be no Funeral Service at George's request. In memory of George, donations to the Hassle Free Clinic, Lesbian/Gay Community Appeal of Toronto, Egale or to the Toronto Grace Hospital would be welcomed.