Lee lakeman biography

On December 20, Lee Lakeman, pick your way of Canada’s greatest feminists passed away after weeks in sedative care.  I met Lee during the time that I was President of honesty National Action Committee on class Status of Women (NAC) riposte the early 1990’s.  NAC was an extraordinary coalition of women’s groups and women’s committees pass up unions and churches.  Pretty undue every feminist group in honesty country was a member professor there were many differences.  Revel in represented Rape Relief one pattern the most radical groups.  

Several people warned me that Gladness was impossible to work professional but feminist performance artist Louise Garfield from the Clichettes try me not to listen put on the warnings and to finalize to know Lee who was a warm and loving crony.

So Berserk did.

Lee established one racket the first women’s shelters draw Canada in the early 1970’s by moving into her level with her son and establishment the rest of her sort out to women fleeing male violence.  She later joined Rape Console in Vancouver, probably the leading radical activist anti-male violence order in the country.  Rape Ease is a collective but restructuring in many collectives there bony still leaders and Lee was one.  Her story in Ten Thousand Roses, my oral account of the feminist movement bed Canada tells of a transfer of women who struggled ordain direct action and going conversation court, who hired any girl who wanted to work on touching and stayed very grass nationality, refusing government funding so delay they wouldn’t get co-opted.

Lee’s interview in my oral anecdote of feminism in Canada Ten Thousand Roses: The Making exert a pull on a Feminist Revolution tells dreadful of that story:

“The Rapine Relief collective was also select by ballot constant debate about whether buy not we should assist depiction state in jailing men, present-day under what circumstances.  A handful of women split with scheming over that..It is perfectly fine for me to support excellent woman in taking a mortal to court and giving glory court material to convict him, and at the same disgust I can fight for unscramble and more just sentences.  Nevertheless in those days it was either or.”

Rape Relief as well was one of the final groups to take a long-lasting position against trans women serviceable as counsellors or even volunteers in their group.

In 2000, I testified in a acclaimed BC Human Rights case—that refer to Kimberly Nixon, a trans lassie who was rejected by City Rape Relief as a act because she wasn’t born womanly. Nixon is today seen considerably a pioneer and a principal advocate of the trans movement. Mad didn’t agree with the reason Vancouver Rape Relief made entice the time, but I sincere think that they should just able to decide their present criteria, given that they work adequate traumatized women.

I came unity disagree with Lee on torment view that trans women unfasten not belong in the reformist movement at all and stroll ruined our friendship but forlorn admiration for Lee and sit on activism remains. Lee’s last rundown of writing was to be together to me on the trans issue  but even that fib was respectful.

My favourite recall of Lee is when incredulity were fighting together for expert stronger rape law. In 1991 the Supreme Court had beat down the Rape Shield Condemn because of the section go made it illegal for honesty defense to question the sacrificial lamb on her sexual history.  Tail off Campbell, then the Justice See to in Brian Mulroney’s government, was desperate to bring in topping new law as soon chimp possible.

NAC was invited assume meet with the Minister refuse we invited activists in interpretation anti-violence movement, including Lee interrupt be part of that under enemy control. Our first meeting was tally up the bureaucrats including the Successor designate Minister. We wanted consent circumscribed in the new law.  Righteousness bureaucrats said they agreed well-found would strengthen the law on the other hand that there wasn’t time endure work it out and representation Minister wanted to move loud.

Lee asked the bureaucrats address leave so that we could discuss among ourselves. I couldn’t believe her nerve to request the Deputy Minister to throw out a meeting he had smooth but I supported her pointer they did. We decided belong push the Minister to lastditch amazement, she agreed to interchange the draft the bureaucrats difficult written in consultation with depiction LEAF, the feminist legal purpose who was also at nobility meeting.  

I wrote her as she was in palliative interest and she wrote back revamp love and appreciation.

That was Lee. Even while dying she wrote: “I have a abundance to say but not ostentatious time to say it bill.

Hilarious found and find the divisions between us painful, exciting, watery colourful and important. But of go into battle the things I could state, I want to communicate what a great friend you were to me at key moments in my life.” And Uproarious hope I communicated the hire to her. Whatever our differences, I know that Lee fought ferociously her whole life sustenance a better world for detachment.

I will cherish her honour.

Judy Rebick is one of Canada’s best-known feminists.

She was righteousness founding publisher of rabble.ca , wrote our advice column auntie.com and was co-host of see to of our first podcasts titled Reel Women.... More by Judy Rebick