The Canadian Lesbian & Gay Archives / Materials / Records / Related documents
	Chronology from Flaunting It! 1964-1982
	1972 / Appx 500 words

Victories and defeats
A gay and lesbian chronology 1964-1982
1972

1972 / Toronto

Publication of A Not So Gay World: Homosexuality in Canada by Marion Fraser [sic] and Kent Murray (McClelland and Stewart), first non-fiction book on homosexuality in Canada.
[Both authors used pseudonyms; the first was Marion Foster, not Fraser. A 1972 review is available online.]

February / Winnipeg

Gays for Equality formed. First gay movement organization in Manitoba.

Spring / Edmonton

Formation of the first gay organization in Alberta, called Gay Alliance Toward Equality -- Edmonton.
[McLeod dates this to Summer 1971.]

March / Saskatoon

Zodiac Friendship Society is registered as a non-profit organization, becomes umbrella group for social and political activities in the city.
[McLeod dates this to Jan 1972.]

April 15 / Ottawa

Visible gay contingent joins Viet Nam Mobilization Committee demonstration protesting visit of US president Richard Nixon to Canada.

May / Toronto

First issue of The Other Woman produced. Combination of several feminist newspapers. Predominant input from lesbian feminists.

May 4 / Toronto

Community forum ("Homosexuality: myth and reality") at St Lawrence Centre Town Hall disrupted by right-wing group Western Guard.

June 14 / Montreal

FLH opens new gay centre with a dance. Police raid and charge forty people for being found in an establishment selling liquor without permit. Charges later dropped, but attendance falls at centre. Organization folds within a few months.

June 29 / Toronto

Gays demonstrate at Queen's Park (site of Ontario legislature) to protest omission of sexual orientation from amendments to Ontario Human Rights Code then being considered by legislature. First public gay action around rights code reform.

August

National Gay Election Coalition formed by sixteen groups to intervene in October 30 federal election. Questionnaires sent to candidates.

August 19-27 / Toronto

First Gay Pride Week organized by Toronto Gay Action.

August 23-28

Uproar in Toronto's dailies over the publication of Gerald Hannon article "Of men and little boys" in The Body Politic. Criminal charges threatened but not laid.

Autumn / Montreal

Formation of first anglophone gay organization in Quebec: GAY, later Gay McGill.

Autumn / Toronto

First lesbian drop-ins organized at The Woman's Place at 31 Dupont Street.

October / Saskatoon

First annual Western Canadian Gay Clubs Conference. Representatives from private clubs in three prairie provinces meet to discuss ways to cooperate. Forerunner of gay political organizations.
[McLeod notes at the same time merger of the Gay Alliance Toward Equality (Saskatoon) and the Gay Students Alliance, to form Saskatoon Gay Action.]

November 18 / Montreal

Gay McGill holds first of what were to become the most successful community dances in the city. Ended in May 1975 by withdrawal of liquor licence by Quebec liquor board.