Gay rights activist Jim Egan lives in Courtenay with Jack Nesbit, his partner of 50 years. In 1995 they used the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to challenge alleged discriminatory exclusion of pension benefits to same-sex couples in the Supreme Court. That same year they were grand marshals in Gay Pride parades in both Toronto and Vancouver. Egan's memoir is Challenging the Conspiracy of Silence (CLGA/Homewood $15). "I never felt the need for society's permission or approval to live my life,"; he says. Boys 0-88974-086-0; Egan 0-9683829-0-8; Here 0-8020-8210-6

[BCBW SUMMER 1999]