Friday, September 30, 2005

To Infinity and Beyond!


We cannot wait for the follow-up on John Fisher's drive for worldwide same-sex marriages. With only one news story so far, the Canadian with roots in New Zealand is headed off to Switzerland to make it happen.

While the rest of us wring out hands and sigh at all the work to be done, Fisher is no Don Quixote. He knows what is right and has made it his business to manifest his vision.

He was a prime mover way uptown as executive director of EGALE, which was instrumental in getting SSM legalized in Canada. He knows how to make things happen and apparently has no lack of patience and persistence.

A profile of Fisher, included, "I was more impressed with his lawyerly smoothness: John Fisher could, I'm sure, talk his way out of Purgatory."

Fisher came from New Zealand, where homosexuality was illegal. His mom lives in Seattle. He fought the good fight in Canada. He says of his aims, "My mission I guess, has always been the kind of world where Lesbian and Gay people can celebrate who we are with equal freedom, dignity, and respect."

He is going to Geneva to broaden the struggle. He intends to create the first global gay-rights organization, which he calls ARC International. He picked Geneva for its proximity to other human-rights organizations.

He admits, "We have to brace ourselves for a long and hard struggle."

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