[LINK] Eleanor Lister has passed away

[Adam Todd]

Hi everyone,

I'm in tears this morning, was a bit upset before I got the news off 
the grave vine anyway, but long time friend in many forms, and a very 
special person to me from Link has passed away.

Eleanor was extra special to me last year when she revealed to me a 
secret I never knew, and was very supportive in things going on in my own life.

"Kitten" as she was affectionately known to all her friends on the 
Net in IRC and forums, was a truly awesome person.

I thought she had a few more years to go, although she kept telling 
me that her cancer was going to get her sooner than later.

I'm not sure if by posting the next part I'm doing the "right" thing, 
but hell, as far as I'm concerned Kitten is one hell of a person to 
be proud of in this world and the work she put in for so many people, 
communities and society on a whole is worthy of sharing.

Eleanor will be so seriously and sadly missed by so many people.


Sydney Star Observer, Australia

Sydney Star Observer - Issue 915 - Published 24/04/2008

TRANS ACTIVIST WILL BE MISSED by Ani Lamont


[Photo: Cara Davis]


Eleanor Lister, transgender rights advocate and general supporter of
humanitarian issues, died last week after a long battle with throat
cancer.

A public wake held yesterday at 2pm at the Bank Hotel in Newtown drew
mourners from far and wide to share their memories of Lister's
character and public work.

Lister was best known for her political work with the Greens Party.
Joining with the Greens out of a sense of outrage over the Tampa
affair, Lister went on to help establish the GLBTI Committee and
continued through all her work to make sure that transgender issues
remained on the agenda.

She was always ready to speak out on behalf of the transgender
community, and many considered her greatest achievement was her work
in establishing The Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Lister was also never afraid to criticise it either. In a piece she
wrote for SSO in November 2007, Lister adamantly opposed those from
the transgender community who sought to avoid being considered a part
of the gay and lesbian community.

"When we are all being called freaks, when we are all supposedly going
to hell on the same train, what is the point of fighting amongst
ourselves? After we get our freedom we can then say, 'I have nothing
in common with you.'"

Greens GLBT spokesperson Ray Goodlass was a long-time friend and
colleague of Lister. He said what he and others will most remember
about Lister, besides her activism work, would be her sense of humour.

"She was a larger than life figure, who had quite a whimsical approach
to life and a great sense of humour," he told SSO.

"I remember when that politician [Israeli MP, Shlomo Benizri] accused
gay people of causing earthquakes. Eleanor instantly sent round an
email to everyone on the Greens GLBT mailing list just saying, 'Did
the earth move for you?'

"She was an incredibly warm person, she greeted everyone with a kiss,
and she was also incredibly courageous. Even when she was sick, she
never complained about anything. She was just so courageous."

<http://www.ssonet.>http://www.ssonet. com.au/display. asp?ArticleID= 8201