Oral History Interview with George Hislop (1987)

Oral History Interview with George Hislop (1987)

oral history, gay liberation, organisations, CHAT, University of Toronto Homophile Association, Toronto Gay Action Group, The Body Politic, GATE, activism, cruising, bars, Foolscap

In this oral history interview George Hislop, 59 years old, discusses growing up gay in Toronto from the 1930 until the 1980s. He describes his early life, first homosexual experiences, coming out, education, participation in the Toronto gay scene, and his later activism and involvement in politics. The interview follows a linear time, tracing the evolution of the Toronto gay scene since the 1940s. It details the different ways in which gay men socialized and organized through time, highlighting the particular turning points in the Canadian context, instead of arguing for a pre- and post-Stonewall narrative. He describes the formation of groups such as U of T’s homophile association, CHAT, Toronto Gay Action Group, GATE, The Body Politic, among others. He also describes the tensions between older and younger generations of gay men involved in activist organizations and the gay liberation movement. The interview also covers the relationship among gay and lesbians organizing, feminist and left activism in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as cruising in parks and theatres, gay bar culture in the city, private parties, and other forms of socializing.

Foolscap Oral History Project

1987-02-20

John Grube, LGBTQ Oral History Digital Collaboratory (Elspeth Brown, PI), Zohar Freeman

CLGA

PDF, WAV

English

Sound, text

2016-034

Toronto 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s