Oral History Interview with John Gartshore (1984)
oral history, SM, bathhouse raids, Foolscap, Upper Canada College, University of Toronto, Air Canada, work, army, Letros, CHAT, homophile, Christianity, Episcopal, Chicago, Integrity
John Gartshore, a gay man age 58 at time on interview, begins the conversation outlining the his early realizations of him homosexuality at Upper Canada College. He continues onward choronologically, discussing his incomplete BA at Trinity College of University of Toronto, and involvement at St Mary Magdalene. He then explains beginning work at Air Canada (called Trans Canada Airlines at time of hiring) and then his being convinced to joi the army subsequently. Through the army, Gartshore was introduced to the Toronto gay culture – starting at Letros. Gartshore discusses his activism, through CHAT and later Courtwatch, throughout the interview, as well as his experiences consolidating his Christianity and queer identity, including his experience with the gay caucus of the Episcopal Church in Chicago and the formation of the Toronto Chapter of Integrity. Gartshore closes the interview with a brief recount of his experience with police entrapment at the bathhouse raids, and a story about his coming out at the workplace.
Foolscap Oral History Project
1984-11-15
John Grube
CLGA
PDF, WAV
English
sound and text
2016-034
Toronto, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
Oral History Interview with Frederick Sproule (1983)
oral history, relationships, gay culture, Frederick Sproule, WWI, coming out, army, cruising, work, interior design, WWII, Toronto, drag, bars, gay liberation
In this oral history interview Frederick Sproule, 88 years old, discusses his life as a gay man in Toronto from the early twentieth century onwards. The interview begins with Sproule describing his coming out experience when he was 18 and lived in New York. He then narrates his life during World War I, his time in service, sexual experiences, relationships, cruising practices, and his attendance to gay parties. Other topics discussed in the interview include Sproule’s relation with his family, his social circle, his career as an interior designer, the changes in Toronto after WWII, drag practices of people he knew, his political stance, his rather pessimistic opinion about the gay liberation movement, the bar culture in the city, and his relationships with women when he was younger.
Foolscap Oral History Project
1983-08-16
John Grube, LGBTQ Oral History Digital Collaboratory (Elspeth Brown, PI), Zohar Freeman
CLGA
PDF, WAV
English
Sound, text
2016-034
Toronto 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s; New York 1910s, 1920s.
Oral History Interview with Elgin Blair and Richard Brown (1983)
oral history, gay liberation, organisations, coming out, WWII, army, Unitarian, Christianity, gay bars, CHAT, The Body Politic, Older Gay Association, Gays and Lesbians against Disarmament (GLAD), depression, gay business, bars, baths, Lambda
In this oral history interview Elgin Blair and Richard Brown discuss their lives in Toronto as gay men. The interview begins with Elgin (58 years old) commenting on his coming out experience, his puritanical upbringing, his struggle to accept his homosexuality, time in service during the war, radical consciousness, and his work in the Unitarian gay caucus. Other topics include gay social structure in Toronto in the 1950s, gay bars, and Elgin’s involvement in the gay liberation movement and gay organizations such as CHAT, The Body Politic, Older Gay Association, and the Gays and Lesbians against Disarmament (GLAD), as well as in the CCF. Elgin also discusses how bars and pubs, and the people who met there, were instrumental in his coping with depression and sexual orientation. Richard Brown joins the conversation in the second half of the interview. He discusses the important role of gay business like bars and baths in the building of the gay community. He also comments on his personal life, growing up, coming out experience, and involvement in Lambda.
Foolscap Oral History Project
1983-03-20
John Grube, LGBTQ Oral History Digital Collaboratory (Elspeth Brown, PI), Zohar Freeman
CLGA
PDF, WAV
English
Sound, text
2016-034
Toronto 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s