"It took about a year for any of Jim's letters
to be published. Then in 1951, the Toronto
newspaper True News asked Jim to write a
series of articles about being gay.
That made Jim the first person in Canada to
write publicly from a LGBTQ2S+ point of
view. But he wasn't able to include his real name
with the articles. It was still illegal - and very
unsafe - to be gay."
What I learn from the books I read is a constant surprise. Last year, while working on a review committee for the Canadian Children's Book Centre, we read a book about Canada's past and the treatment of gay people. In high school, we had an awareness that there were gay students and teachers at our school. How could there not be? It was never discussed. To learn that "same-sex sexual activity, in private between consenting adults, was decriminalized in Canada on June 27, 1969" explains a lot. I graduated in 1967 when being gay was still illegal.
Jim Egan was born in 1921, His childhood included fun in the outdoors, an interest in nature and science, and an abiding need to help others. He loved books as his mother did, and spent long hours reading many genres. As he grew, he began to realize he was not the same as other boys. He was more interested in them than he was in girls.
After being refused enrolment in the army in 1939, he tried again in 1943 and was accepted for the merchant marine. This led to world travel and a big change in Jim's life. He learned there were other gay men like him. Because it was not safe for LGBTQ2S+ people in most communities, hiding was what they did. When he met Jack Nesbit in 1948, they felt an immediate attraction to each other. They dated, moved in together, and were discouraged from showing any affection when in public.
Another change happened a year later. Jack became further upset with what he was reading about gay people. He began to use his mind and pen to show others that gay people deserved the right to live their lives in the way they chose. He was first to ever write from a gay point of view. Many who read his writings were supportive and offered help. As Jim became more active in fighting for gay rights, Jack became more unhappy, wanting a quiet, private life.
That happened when the two moved to Vancouver Island. As things began to change in Canadian law, Jim recognized there was much left to be done. He turned his attention to the environment and how he could help make change. When he was elected a regional director, he was 'the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in Canada'.
In retirement, he and Jack faced further discrimination when Jack was not allowed to collect the old age pension which was granted to other couples.
"They couldn't get married, adopt children or receive the same
financial supports from the government that other couples
could get."
It was time to fight again ... and fight Jim did. From one court to the next, until he took the case to the Supreme Court of Canada. After an interminable wait, the judges ruled against them; a surprise was attached to their ruling concerning same-sex couples and the fact that laws needed to change to protect them as well.
Before their deaths in 2000, Jim's work was recognized far and wide. His advocacy for all made him a perfect role model for those who today follow in his footsteps. There is work to be done; Jim got it started and it's now up to others to continue to fight the good fight until discrimination is a thing of the past.
A timeline and archival photos add interest for all who read Jim's story here. This is another exceptional book in the Scholastic Canada Biography series.
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