Paul2520, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
For many, Pride is seen as a wonderful celebratory event, often showcasing parades, music, rainbows and performers of all kinds.
However, at its roots, Pride was borne out of riots and protests, as members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community fought for equal rights and freedoms. Although Pride can be seen as a celebration for all that the 2SLGBTQ+ community has overcome, it is important to recognize that, at its core, it is also a time and space for community members to assert their right to the same freedoms as those who are cisgender, gender-conforming and heterosexual. There is no Pride without the protests.
Important Canadian 2SLGBTQ+ Events:
- Although Stonewall is known as the riot that lead to 2SLGBTQ+ activism, there have been many other protests, including in Canada. These protests and activism helped to shape what we know as Pride.
- The first organized protest in Canada happened in 1971 with a march on Parliament and a list of 10 demands for equal rights for Gays.
- In 1973, after successful lobbying, homosexuality was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual as a mental disorder.
- Throughout the 1970s and beyond, the 2SLGBTQ+ community would be subjected to raids including the Brunswick Four in 1974 in Toronto.
- In 1975-1976, Montreal clubs and bathhouses were raided in a perceived attempt to "clean up" the city's image for the 1976 Olympics.
- The worst raids were in Toronto in 1981 with Operation Soap that arrested over 300 gay men and saw most charges dropped.
- Other persecutions took place, such as the Glad Day Bookshop raids in 1982 which had materials seized that were deemed obscene.
- In 1986, Little Sisters bookstore had more than 500 titles seized by Canada Customs under an obscenity clause. Little Sisters would fight back in a lawsuit that would travel all the way to Canada's Supreme Court. In 2000, the Supreme Court agreed that Little Sisters was targeted because of its ties to the Gay and Lesbian community.
- In the 1980s, individuals such as teacher Eric Smith, from Shelburne County, would be fired due to their HIV status.
- By 1992, the government removed its ban on LGBTQ members in the military.
- Sexual orientation was added as a "read" item to the Canadian Human Rights Act (and officially confirmed by law in 1996). In 1995 it was added the Canadian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
- In 1999, House of Commons passes a vote to uphold a traditional definition of marriage, involving only cis-gender and heterosexual couples.
- In 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage under Bill C-38. In 2006, the Federal Conservative party in power attempted unsuccessfully to reverse the decision.
- 2017 saw Bill C-16 passed with the Canadian Human Rights Act expanded to include Gender Identity & Expression.
- Even after repeated lawsuits, there continues to be a blood donation ban. Gay men or men who identify as having sexual relations with other men are restricted in their ability to donate blood.
- In 2020, the Liberals introduced a bill to ban conversion therapy. It is currently banned in only 5 provinces, including Nova Scotia.
- In April, 2022, a new policy, approved by Health Canada, was lauded as ending the blood ban for men who have sex with men. However, critics notes that Canadian Blood Services revised screening questionnaire would still unfairly stigmatize men who have sex men, as well as some transgender people.
For more events in Canada, please check out the link below:
Queer Events. (n.d.) History of Canadian Pride. https://www.queerevents.ca/canada/pride/history
