Kyle Rae (1954- )
Files
Dublin Core
Title
Kyle Rae (1954- )
Description
Born in Ottawa in 1954 and raised in Oakville, Kyle attended Brock University, the University of Birmingham and the University of Toronto for his post-secondary education. He holds a Masters degree in Medieval History and a Masters of Library Science.
Upon returning to Toronto in 1981, Kyle got involved in gay liberation politics by joining Gays & Lesbians Against the Right Everywhere which launched the first Lesbian and Gay Pride celebration in June 1981. In 1986 Kyle began working at The 519 Church Street Community Centre, and in 1987 he became the Executive Director. During that time, he was a juror for the permanent AIDS Memorial, he worked on the successful passage of Bill 7 amending the Ontario Human Rights Code to include sexual orientation, established the Gay Bashing Hotline, began sensitivity training with the Toronto Police Service and convinced the Service to include gays and lesbians in hate crime statistics. He secured the first Lesbian & Gay Pride Day proclamation from City Council in 1991, and convinced City Council to provide same sex benefits to all City employees.
In 1991 Kyle was elected to Toronto City Council representing Ward 6, and became the first openly gay City Councillor in Toronto. While on Council, he chaired the AIDS Subcommittee from 1991 - 1999, convinced Women's College Hospital., Toronto General Hospital and Wellesley Hospital to provide same sex benefits to their employees and established the tradition of raising the Rainbow Flag at City Hall each year during Pride Week. He also won Council support to approve Buddies in Bad Times as the resident company in the theatre at 12 Alexander Street. Kyle established the Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Police Advisory Committee including a dedicated foot patrol for the neighbourhood and secured survivor pension rights for same sex spouses of City employees. He also worked towards passage of Bill C-41 to impose harsher sentences for hate-motivated crimes. Kyle was re-elected to City Council in 1994 and again in 1997. He was voted Best City Councillor by Now Magazine in 1996 and 1997 and by Xtra! Magazine in 1998. (1999 Induction Statement)
Conseiller municipal ouvertement gai à Toronto.
Upon returning to Toronto in 1981, Kyle got involved in gay liberation politics by joining Gays & Lesbians Against the Right Everywhere which launched the first Lesbian and Gay Pride celebration in June 1981. In 1986 Kyle began working at The 519 Church Street Community Centre, and in 1987 he became the Executive Director. During that time, he was a juror for the permanent AIDS Memorial, he worked on the successful passage of Bill 7 amending the Ontario Human Rights Code to include sexual orientation, established the Gay Bashing Hotline, began sensitivity training with the Toronto Police Service and convinced the Service to include gays and lesbians in hate crime statistics. He secured the first Lesbian & Gay Pride Day proclamation from City Council in 1991, and convinced City Council to provide same sex benefits to all City employees.
In 1991 Kyle was elected to Toronto City Council representing Ward 6, and became the first openly gay City Councillor in Toronto. While on Council, he chaired the AIDS Subcommittee from 1991 - 1999, convinced Women's College Hospital., Toronto General Hospital and Wellesley Hospital to provide same sex benefits to their employees and established the tradition of raising the Rainbow Flag at City Hall each year during Pride Week. He also won Council support to approve Buddies in Bad Times as the resident company in the theatre at 12 Alexander Street. Kyle established the Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Police Advisory Committee including a dedicated foot patrol for the neighbourhood and secured survivor pension rights for same sex spouses of City employees. He also worked towards passage of Bill C-41 to impose harsher sentences for hate-motivated crimes. Kyle was re-elected to City Council in 1994 and again in 1997. He was voted Best City Councillor by Now Magazine in 1996 and 1997 and by Xtra! Magazine in 1998. (1999 Induction Statement)
Conseiller municipal ouvertement gai à Toronto.
Creator
Norman Hatton
Publisher
Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives
Date
1998
Format
Medium: exhibition quality black and white photographic print
Dimensions: 23 x 28 cm (W x H)
Dimensions: 23 x 28 cm (W x H)
Identifier
083
Citation
Norman Hatton, “Kyle Rae (1954- ),” The ArQuives Digital Exhibitions, accessed April 25, 2024, https://digitalexhibitions.arquives.ca/items/show/124.