Michelle Douglas

Case Study

How would you like to be described?

I am a 56-year old woman who lives in Canada. I am someone who has had an interesting life and I became an activist in order to help make sure that there is more equality, justice and fairness in the world. I am a veteran, a retired public servant and a family member. Professionally, I am the executive director of the LGBT Purge Fund. 

How would you describe what you do?

I retired after 30 years of working for Canada’s Justice Department. Now, I work with others to try to make all people feel more included and respected in our world.  I focus more work on reconciliation with marginalized communities – especially the LGBTQ community. I also have a busy life as a volunteer.  

What is your greatest achievement?

I stood up for myself when I was treated very badly. Because I stood up for myself, and made sure that the discriminatory treatment I experienced in my job was stopped, it meant that things became better for a lot of other people as well. More specifically, I fought a legal battle against the Canadian Armed Forces because I was fired for being a lesbian. My lawsuit in 1992 ended the military’s policy of discrimination against LGBTQ people. 

What was the cause or ’trigger for this journey of making the world a better place through being useful and kind? And how old were you? When did you realise you could make a difference?

I was fired from my job (in the Canadian Armed Forces) because I am a lesbian. I was 24 years old at that time. I decided to stand up against stop this discrimination. I realized that if I stood up for myself and others, that things would get better; that more people would be treated with respect. 

Was it something your parents are/would have been proud of and encouraged?

Even though I was an adult, my parents supported me and were proud of me.  I was very lucky to have the love and support of my family. 

Who or what were your early influences?

I was inspired and influenced by Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr and by anyone who fought hard for equality and justice. I also was very inspired by the AIDS activists of the 1980’s and 1990s. They taught me about activism. They were fighting for access to effective medicines and for equal treatment. They were fighting for their lives in the midst of a medical crisis. They inspired me a lot. 

What were you doing at 16?

I was a high school student at the age of 16. I went to high school in a small city near Toronto, Canada. I was active in student politics. I ran for student parliament. I had a summer job and I liked high school even though I was not a great student. 

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

You don’t have to worry about knowing exactly what you will do with your life at the age of 16. You may have a few different types of jobs and you never know what experiences you will have that could change your goals and professional paths. I would encourage my 16-year old self to learn lessons of resiliency and to keep an open mind. I would also learn more about others and their life experiences.

What advice would you give to other young people?

Be curious about the world and think about the world beyond your neighbourhood, community and country. If you can, learn another language. Read a lot. Also, emulate the best qualities of people you admire. 

What has been the most difficult challenge on the way and how did you overcome it?

I wish I took my studies more seriously when I was in high school and later in university. I took my education for granted in high school. I had to work really hard as an adult to gain the skills that I needed to succeed in the workplace. I later went to university and that proved to an important part (at least for me) of gaining professional success as an adult. 

What do you think are the changes we need to see in the world and how can being U&K help solve those things?

There are many challenges in the world. Open your eyes to see them. You can be part of changing things. Indeed, you must not rely only on others to contribute to making the world a better place. Find a way to be useful and be kind in the way you do it. The world needs you! You have skills and you can find others who want to work on the same things you do. Find those people (connections have never been easier to make than they are now!). Be part of a community of change-makers. Also, it really is important that you do “more than nothing” to help the world. 

How are you useful and kind to yourself - what helps and hinders?

Good question! I try to find a way to contribute to improving issues that are important to me. I volunteer to help in organizations. I also make sure I stay healthy and I love other people (i.e. my friends and family). Everyone is busy but I make time for the people I love and for volunteering. I consider this a life-long commitment. 

How are you both useful and kind to others (the easy ones and those who are more difficult to be U&K to)?

I offer my time to organizations to volunteer with a few organizations. I offer them my time, passion and skills. The experience of volunteering has always been very rewarding to me as well. I try to always be kind (practically speaking, this means being empathetic and respectful). 

What is your biggest challenge in the future?

I feel like my energy is not as great as it was when I was younger. Oh well! This happens. I just keep going. Being useful and kind is a long-long value for me. I’ll find a way to keep going, even when I am busy with work and when I am tired. I also get disheartened by meanness on social media. Finding a way to stay informed yet not being dragged down by online hatred and misinformation is a really big challenge. We must find ways to seek sources of information that are reliable, trustworthy, truthful and based on science. 

What do you wish you had done differently?

I wish I had pursued more advanced education. I also wish that I spoke more languages than English and French.