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The We Demand March of August 1971 was the first recorded political action taken by LGBTQ2+ activists in Canada. The march coincided with the second anniversary of the passing of Bill C-150 which decriminalized homosexual acts in Canada between men over the age of consent.

Although the reform of the 1969 Criminal Code led to the decriminalization of certain homosexual acts, it did not have much tangible impact on the policing and surveillance of queers. 

The We Demand document drafted by David Newcome and Herb Spiers and was read out under the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa by Charlie Hill and consisted of calls for changes to the law and public policy regarding gay and lesbian rights.

All photos in this exhibit are taken by Jearld Moldenhauer, please contact the photographer through his website if you would like to reproduce these photos in any way.