Alice Fisher’s OutstandingLife: Building Communities

Alice Fisher has always seen possibilities where others see obstacles. Growing up on Long Island as a Brooklyn Dodgers fan, she followed a path that would eventually lead her through marriage, motherhood, divorce, and a lifelong commitment to social change. Now 84 and living in the Boston’s South End with her cat, Billy, and a lizard called T2, with a sizable tank, Alice reflects on a journey marked by courage, resilience, and an unwavering belief in the power of community.

Alice’s path into activism was shaped by her experiences as a lesbian mother at a time when societal acceptance was scarce. “Back in the ’80s, there was a big risk if a mother was identified as a lesbian—you could lose your kids,” she recalls. But Alice navigated those challenges with thoughtfulness, maintaining strong relationships with her family, caring for grandkids, while pursuing her passions. She earned a PhD with a dissertation on lesbian mothers from the Union of Experimenting Colleges and Universities—a program she describes as a “roll-your-own doctoral program,” allowing her to design her education and select her mentors, including the legendary disability activist Irving Zola.

Her advocacy work spans decades and causes. Alice has been deeply involved with the Cambridge Women’s Center, disability rights, and classes for lesbian mothers, blending personal
experience with activism. But perhaps one of her most enduring contributions is the latest chapter, co-founding OutstandingLife, a nonprofit organization for LGBTQ+ seniors, a too-often
overlooked population.

“It’s easy to become isolated, especially if you have limited mobility,” she says. “However, when the pandemic hit, Zoom showed up. And that was a very useful instrument.” Using
technology, OutstandingLife built a vibrant online community where older LGBTQ+ adults could participate safely from home during a time when in-person gatherings were impossible.
The organization offers everything from book clubs to writing workshops to coffee chats and a popular weather series, fostering connections, creativity, and mutual support. “You can meet
people you really enjoy, even online, it’s a way for people to participate, without having to leave their homes,” she says. “It’s been wonderful to see friendships form and grow.”

Alice’s vision has always been simple but profound: to create a space where LGBTQ elders can engage, learn, and share life experiences without barriers. Looking forward, she emphasizes the
impact of OutstandingLife on individuals and the broader community.“It’s growing by leaps and bounds,” she says. “It’s really doing it—it’s making a difference, and it will keep going.” For Alice, the value of the organization is personal as well as communal.

Through it, she has made friends, acted on her passions, and contributed as a board member to a supportive, vibrant network for LGBTQ+ elders.

Since its founding in 2021, OutstandingLife has grown steadily. More people are joining online, forming friendships and sharing experiences. Alice encourages others to give it a try. “People
need it. It can be lonely out there,” she says. “Come join us. You’ll meet some interesting people and find exciting things to do.”
“We started with an idea and a few committed friends,” Alice adds. “Now it’s a real community, and that’s what makes it special.”
OutstandingLife is more than a program. It’s a space where older LGBTQ+ older adults can learn, laugh, and thrive together. Membership is free, and your donation keeps those connections
going.