Pioneering Canadian Gay Activist George Hislop Dies

by The Canadian Press
Posted: October 9, 2005
4:00 pm ET

(Toronto, Ontario)

George Hislop, Canada's first major LGBT civil rights activist has died at the age of 78.

Instrumental in fighting to get gays included in Ontario's Human Rights Code and later in federal human rights laws, Hislop in later life continued the battle for gay equality over survivor benefits for widowed same-sex partners.

When Hislop's longtime partner died after years of contributing to the Canada pension plan, Hislop applied for a pension but was turned down.

He fought the decision and spent the last 19 years trying to get the rules changed.
Earlier this year, Hislop declared victory and in August he said he received his first check from the government.

``George was a leader in the lesbian and gay community in fighting discrimination and demanding equal respect,'' said Douglas Elliott, Hislop's lawyer.

``With his unique combination of charm and courage, George transformed our city, our nation and our world. His death is a great loss to all of us.''

The federal government began making the payments to Hislop despite the fact it planned to ask the Supreme Court of Canada to strike down a November 2004 Ontario Court of Appeal decision.

The Supreme Court challenge is expected to be heard in February, and Ottawa has warned beneficiaries that they may have to repay the money if the ruling is struck down.

At issue is federal legislation passed in 2000 that allowed same-sex partners to collect survivor benefits under the CPP. The law restricted payments to those whose partners had died after January 1998. That sparked complaints of discrimination against people who were arbitrarily excluded.

Hislop and his co-claimants want the cut-off point set in 1985, the year in which the Charter of Rights took effect and opened the door for gays and lesbians to eventually win equal treatment with heterosexual couples in pension matters.

The government has been fighting that demand for years. Ottawa says the case could set a precedent for a broad range of other social programs and end up costing the federal treasury up to $80 million.

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