Janine Fuller facts for kids

Janine Elizabeth Fuller (born in 1958) is a Canadian businesswoman and writer. She is well-known for her work against rules that limit what people can read or say. She was the manager of a bookstore called Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium in Vancouver, British Columbia. Janine Fuller played a key role in the bookstore's legal fights against Canada Customs. These battles ended up in the highest court in Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada, in 2004.

Janine Fuller grew up in Toronto, Ontario. She started speaking up for fairness between boys and girls when she was young. For example, in Grade 6, she fought to start a girls' soccer team. Later, she worked at the Toronto Women's Bookstore. In 1983, this store was attacked by fire. In 1989, she moved to Vancouver and started working at Little Sister's the next year. As the store faced legal problems, she became very active in raising money and supporting freedom of expression. This was because Canada Customs often stopped and held back the books the store ordered from publishers.

After being diagnosed with Huntington's disease in the late 2000s, Janine Fuller also became an activist and speaker. She now helps raise awareness about this condition.

Janine Fuller's Writings

In 1995, Janine Fuller wrote a book with Stuart Blackley called Restricted Entry: Censorship on Trial. This book tells the true story of the Little Sister's bookstore's legal fight. She also wrote the introduction for another book called Forbidden Passages: Writings Banned in Canada. This book was a collection of parts from works that had been held back by customs. Patrick Califia edited this collection.

Janine Fuller has also written several plays. She has also performed her own artistic works for audiences.

Awards and Recognition

Both Restricted Entry and Forbidden Passages won awards called Lammies at the 8th Lambda Literary Awards in 1996. Forbidden Passages won in the "Editor's Choice" group, and Restricted Entry won in the "Publisher's Service" group.

Janine Fuller has been honored for her important contributions to the history and culture of LGBT people in Canada. She is a member of both the Q Hall of Fame Canada and The ArQuives: Canada's LGBTQ2+ Archives' National Portrait Collection. In 2004, Simon Fraser University gave her an honorary degree called a Doctorate of Laws. She also received the first Reg Robson Award from the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association in 1997. In 2002, she won the Freedom to Read Award from the Writers' Union of Canada. She has also received awards from many women's and LGBT groups.

In 2024, she was appointed to the Order of Canada. This is a very high honor given to Canadians who have made a big difference.