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Audio recording of Jim & Jack by Garth Webb Secondary School Grade 10 students.

Jim & Jack

Edited by: Ron Levy (he/him)

Flash! A snap bursts and catches both men by surprise. Sitting outside the Savarin Hotel, a simple action of holding hands managed to attract the photographer’s snap of a young Jim Egan and Jack Nesbit on their first date.

In August, 1948 the two young men were enjoying each other's company; remaining watchful of the glances of passersby, the strangers looking over the edges of newspapers, and looking up from park bench conversations about the two men together. The tabloids of the time were relentless, describing them as criminal sexual psychopaths and dangerous sexual offenders. Intimidated by the widespread homophobia, Egan made a choice to retaliate against this discrimination. Defending himself, and his partner, he took up his pen; tapping into his typewriter, he wrote for change. What Jim Egan and Jack Nesbit did not know then was the significance of their relationship and how it would  be the start of years of activism, writing, and fighting for legal change. The encounter of these two men lead to this first date, and a hard-fought future where their love is accepted.

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Audio recording of Call Me Sacha by Garth Webb Secondary School Grade 10 students.

Call Me Sacha

Edited by: Paul Cocchia

Wrapped in shimmering gold, she stands as a vision of beauty and rebellion, embodying a bold statement of identity and artistry that demands to be seen. Performing at St Charles Tavern, Sacha Mackenie was mesmerizing and captured the attention of everyone watching.

On Halloween night in the 1960s, civilians surrounded the tavern in disgust, watching people dressed in drag hurry into the building. Eggs were thrown and ink was splattered on to her and the drag queens as they entered, ruining their glamorous outfits, and smearing their makeup. Despite the threat of harassment and public violence, they didn’t let that stop them from enjoying their night. In retaliation and confidence, they changed into clean dresses and went back out to perform.

In spite of the taunting crowd, Sacha Mackenzie stepped in front of the camera and posed spectacularly. Her courage laid the foundation for a golden age of drag in Toronto, where bold fashion reshaped society.

1996-093/49P(1)

Audio recording of Pei Lim: From Pain to Joy by Garth Webb Secondary School Grade 10 students.

Pei Lim: From Pain to Joy

Edited by: Alwin Kong (he/him)

Gathered in Grange Park, onlookers watched performances and listened to speeches by many different members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. All eyes were on Pei, as he stepped onto the stage, ropes tied around his waist and neck, and wearing  a white mask. He hides his true identity from the crowd celebrating Toronto Pride in 1981. The ropes symbolized society’s oppression and views against him and his identity. Not belonging to either community, being rejected  from his Asian heritage, but also not being accepted in his queer community.  Through his performance, he tells his story, the mask-- now gone, revealed and unified his Asian and queer identity and as he freed himself from the ropes, he embraced every trait that made him Pei Lim. Free, he extended into a beautiful arabesque, released from doubt and waving a flag with a pink triangle flag.

From pain to joy, he embraces his uniqueness, through this symbolic and dramatic performance. And the crowd watched, learned, and listened to his story, captivated by every turn. Though time has passed, and Pride is strong in Toronto, Peil Lim helped us to celebrate our pride in a truly diverse 2SLGBTQ+ community that embraces everyone, including the Gay Asians of Toronto (GAT).  

1990-002/08P-029

Audio recording of This was Her Protest by Garth Webb Secondary School Grade 10 students.

This was Her Protest

Edited by: Fay & Fluffy

Click - Clack. Her heels hit the floor with the powerful force of her presence. Each step on the hard concrete caused a commotion right outside the St. Charles Tavern’s doors on October 31, 1979. The Halloween Balls attracted violence, the crowd’s outbursts causing great disturbance, and  filling the air with slurs such as “kill the queers” and "faggot".

Eggs hitting walls echoed across the Toronto alleyway, hitting the Queen's silky dress. As the eggs pelted around her, she kept her feet firmly grounded. This was her protest! She performed with pride and confidence, standing up for not only herself but also her queer community. She defied the strong homophobic and transphobic stereotypes amongst the minds of society, and she still does.

On the request of David Crombie, then mayor of Toronto, a police officer arrived to pull the Queen away, and arrest her for her performance. The jeering crowd settled, but her rights and ours were again denied. Out of the ruckus, she raised her hand above her head and waved a dismissal to the crowd to show her strength, her persistence, and that the show will go on.

1996-063/01P

Audio recording of Pride Grand Marshals by Garth Webb Secondary School Grade 10 students.

Pride Grand Marshals

Edited by: Doug Kerr

People gathered, cheering the grand marshals onto the route of the celebratory 1995 Toronto Pride march. By this point, Jim Egan and Jack Nesbit had been happily together for more than 50 years; they’d seen each other through decades of activism in the fight for gay rights in Canada.

But this story began when Jim and Jack applied for spousal allowance benefits under the Old Age Security Act and were denied because of their sexual orientation. Jim and Jack were not considered spouses by the Government of Canada. This denial was devastating and enraging for the 2SLGBTQ+ community. But they fought on - to appeal the court’s decision - eventually leading to the ruling in 1995 that prohibited discrimination against the 2SLGBTQ+ community under Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This was a much needed victory that marked the protection of all individuals sparking widespread celebration and commemoration of decades of protest.

Honouring their hard fought victory, Jim and Jack became the grand marshals of Pride, supported by members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and representing the efforts of their family.

Pride is a protest and celebration; “We are family, get used to it.”

Audio recording of The "Unofficial Mayor..." by Garth Webb Secondary School Grade 10 students.

1990-002-182P

The “Unofficial Mayor…”

Edited by: Paul Dotey (he/him)

When love could cost you freedom, George Hislop stood tall facing the flashing cameras and swarming reporters while showing his pride and determined queerness. As George Hislop made his debut into politics as an openly gay male in 1969, the Toronto media left no crumbs in spreading homophobic misinformation under the government's influence, leaving the 2SLGBTQ+ community battling a society that  refused to accept their identity. In 1980, with the support of then-mayor John Sewell, George Hislop ran for a position in the Toronto City Council, being  one of the first openly gay persons to do so; his work with various other activists in the community made him the  leading voice for 2SLGBTQ+ rights. 

His involvement in politics was groundbreaking in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, garnering attention and both mainstream visibility and prejudice. He continued to run as a candidate multiple times, showing that 2SLGBTQ+ people have the right to be represented in politics. George Hislop passed away on October 8, 2005, and just after his contributions helped achieve the legalization of same sex marriage. Many notable politicians including Svend Robinson, Barbara Hall, Tom Wappel, and leading members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community gathered at his funeral. He really was “the unofficial mayor of the Toronto gay community.” 

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Audio recording of Stairway to Change by Garth Webb Secondary School Grade 10 students.

Stairway to Change

Edited by: Kevin Bray (he/him)  

Maybe what’s interesting about “the steps” is that they are not that interesting at all. In a decade of limited 2SLGBTQ+ public display and positive attention, the steps leading up to the Church St. Second Cup cafe in Toronto provided  some safe ground. Joseph Lipson, the owner of the esteemed venue , opened his doors and steps to the 2SLGBTQ+ communities of Toronto, including the famous Canadian comedians, Mark Mckinney and Scott Thompson.

In the 1980s and 90s, Toronto was not a welcoming environment for openly gay people. It was not easy to be open in public and find spaces to connect with friends and relax in the city. Governmental and social prejudice created fear within members of the 2SLGBTQ+ communities who felt it was not safe  to come together and just hangout. There was ongoing persecution, abuse, police harassment, and discrimination. When Mark McKinney, Scott Thompson, and the rest of their comedy troupe became famous, they brought attention to the Church and Wellesley Village where they once lived. In an interview, they mentioned the Second Cup where they both used to work and “the steps” outside.Through their comedy, “the steps” resonated with so many people and became an iconic symbol of Toronto’s 2SLGBTQ+ communities and an ever-changing Canada.

Eventually, new owners removed the steps and closed the venue in 2002. Of course, this caused significant upset as the community lost a uniquely queer space in a busy city where many in the  2SLGBTQ+ community could  go for fun and connect with others.

1986-032/50P(01P)

Audio recording of Stairway to Change by Garth Webb Secondary School Grade 10 students.

Canada’s First Pride Week

Edited by: Dennis Findlay (he/him) 

Celebrations of Pride were born in the courage of Queer people in the 1970s, laying a new foundation for equal rights. 1973 was the year the first PRIDE week was held in cities all across Canada. People in the Gay Liberation Movement and the larger 2SLGBTQ+ community sought change and used this week to bring attention to the lack of gay rights in Canada. Pride became a protest for  progress, and a march for more.  Throughout history, Canada’s 2SLGBTQ+ community faced oppression and discrimination from society, in religious institutions, and by the government. Queer people continued to be treated as criminals in Canada, even after legal changes in Bill c-150 in 1969. These changes to Canada’s Criminal Code, reinforced the policing of “gross indecency” in an overtly homophobic and transphobic society. This led to an influx of anti-Queer hate. 

Pride Week 1973 broke barriers that were once thought impossible, as it raised awareness in cities across Canada, including Vancouver, Saskatoon, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. The Queer community bravely stepped forward to build the Canada we know today, by hosting activities such as social gatherings and cultural events. Like in this picture, the first nationally recognized Pride in 1973 added a block to an ever-growing pyramid of gay liberation and human rights for all members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Even with much work to do to bring about progress, celebrating Pride in ‘73 was a step in the right direction - another block in building a better foundation for us all.