It's been fifty years since the Stonewall riot that launched a new phase of gay organizing and since the controversial amendments to the Canadian Criminal Code that allegedly "decriminalized" gay sex. In the decade after those events, new political organizing within Toronto's LGBTQ community fought for a radical vision of "Gay Liberation." Organizations, newspapers, demonstrations, and celebrations blossomed. But the impact of that political challenge soon faded. What happened? Our two speakers will address this history.

Tom Hooper wrote a PhD dissertation on the organizing against the bathhouse raids of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and has been a leading voice of the Anti-69 movement that has recently challenged the celebrations of the 1969 criminal reforms.

Tim McCaskell has been a prominent activist in the LGTBQ community for decades and is the author of Queer Progress: From Homophobia to Homonationalism.

ACCESSIBILITY INFO:

Steelworkers Hall is a wheelchair accessible space. Parking is available in the lot behind the hall on a first-come first-serve basis (enter through laneway east of hall). There is also paid parking available on the street. The closest transit stops are Spadina and Nassau (510 Spadina Streetcar) and College and Beverley/St. George (506 Carlton Streetcar).

For any other accessibility questions or concerns, please contact Craig Heron at cheron@yorku.ca.