Community Building and Activism in the 1990s
Many of the activists involved with struggles for human rights and relationship recognition contributed to several campaigns and issues affecting LGBT people. During the 1990s, LGBT organizing continued to grow in strength and diversity, and a new generation of activists raised new concerns and issues. At the same time, opposition to LGBT rights continued, including escalating acts of violence and homophobia, which required a response. Ethno-racial community organizing grew in strength and confidence alongside older predominately white gay-liberation groups. Their efforts contributed to the movement's strength and maturity, challenging backwardness and racism within lesbian and gay organizations and homophobia within ethno-racial communities in Canada – transforming the movement and laying the groundwork for the future.
Clip is a record of a demonstration that took place outside of the Second Cup on Yonge street in the Church-Wellesley village, on October 21st, 1994. The rally was held in response to a violent attack on Ross Mulhearon and Steve Tait in the same spot, the weekend before. The clip features rally speaker Bob Gallaghar discussing the experiences of two victims and calling for change, rally signs, and protesters. Chants include "We're here, we're queer, we're not going away!" and "No more violence!". Film by Nancy Nicol, October 21,1994.
Dr. Alan Li talks about the response to HIV and AIDs and discusses racism and barriers within the mainstream white gay community organizing. He addresses specific issues affecting racialised communities and focuses on the establishment and work of Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS). He relates the story of one of their first clients to illustrate how stigma and insensitivity to the specific needs of Asian gay men affected them and their access to services. Alan speaks to the growth of organizing by racialized communities and on-going need to recognize their voices.
Suhail talks about the program for new-comer youth developed by Supporting Our Youth: SOY, a program which he leads that supports racialized new comer youth as well as black queer and Trans youth. He addresses issues of isolation and persecution that queer new comers face. He gives examples of the experiences of queer refugees and describes the barriers they face in attempting to access mainstream predominately queer community organizations in Toronto. He also talks about his personal experience coming to Canada as a new-comer. He also talks about Salaam, a queer Muslim group that he is active in. He talks about the growth of anti-Muslim racism following 9/11 and the fact that Salaam was forced by world events to be more visible - working in alliance with mainstream Muslim organizations to address racism - which in turn raised the visibility of queer Muslims.
Clip shows an address given at the Egale Canada Human Rights Trust's Outlaws & Inlaws Equality Fundraising Gala event on June 22, 2004 at Church at Berkeley, Queen Street East, Toronto. The event featured Mary McCandless, the Forte Men’s Chorus, the Honourable Martin Cauchon, and Maggie Cassella. The clip features the Executive Directore of Egale Canada, Giles Marchildon, discussing the trusts current LGBTQ+ rights 5 main focus areas, including youth outreach, transgender rights, sex and censorship, anti-gay violence, and collaboration with other groups. Film by Nancy Nicol, June 22, 2004.
These are selected shorts from the Nancy Nicol collection. Other interviews on Community Building and Activism in the 1990sare available on site at the CLGA, and include the following people:
Suhail Abualsameed (New-comer Group, Supporting our Youth: SOY; Salaam)
Laurie Arron (Campaign for Equal Families and Egale Canada)
Irène Demczuk (La Table de concertation des lesbiennes et gais du Québec / the Roundtable for Lesbians and Gays of Quebec, La coalition pour la reconnaissance des conjoints et conjointes de même sexe / the Coalition for Recognition of Same-sex Relationships)
Barbara Findlay (Q.C. December 9 Coalition, Alliance of Women Against Racism Etc. (AWARE), Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)
John Fisher (Egale Canada, principal author: Outlaws and Inlaws: Your Guide to LGBT rights, Same-sex Relationships and Canadian Law, Egale Canada, 2004)
Sue Genge (Canadian Labour Congress); Fred Hahn, (Pink Triangle Committee, Canadian Union of Public Employees: CUPE)
Dr. Alan Li, (Gay Asians of Toronto; Asian Community AIDS Services, the Coalition against Homophobia, Chinese Canadian National Council (past president)
Laurent McCutcheon (La Fondation Émergence, La coalition pour la reconnaissance des conjoints et conjointes de même sexe / the Coalition for Recognition of Same-sex Relationships.Cynthia Petersen (lawyer for Egale Canada on key charter cases for LGBT rights)
David Rayside (Right to Privacy Committee: RTPC, Human Rights Amendment Campaign, author, Queer Inclusions, Continental Divisions, 2008)
Douglas Stewart (Zami, Simon Nkodi Anti Apartheid Committee, Black Lesbian and Gay Action Group, Black, Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Aids Discussion Group (BBGLAD), AIDS Committee of Toronto, Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention)
Tom Warner (Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Ontario: CLGRO), Right to Privacy Committee (RTPC), June 13 Committee, Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission (1993-1996), Campaign for Equal Families and author of Never Going Back A History of Queer Activism in Canada, 2002)