The History of Pride in Canada
When people think about the history of Pride, often they consider the Stonewall riots in New York City, an important and history-altering moment for the LGBTQ+ community. However, Canada has its own LGBTQ+ history. The strides made by the community have been significant, but in Canada, in the grand scheme of things much of the changes have been recent, and there is still much work to be done. Did you know that the Pride Flag was first on Parliament Hill in just 2016? The Charter of Rights and Freedoms was established in Canada in 1982, yet to this day we continue to see LGBTQ+ people fighting for recognition and protection under this legislation.
We at The Quickie recognize all the hard work, sacrifice, and struggle of their community, and strive to be an ally at every turn. However, we are not the experts or the voice of this movement.
Timeline of LGBTQ+ Rights in Canada:
1969: On May 14, 1969, Canada decriminalized homosexual acts between consenting adults (Criminal Law Amendment Act). The law received royal assent (the last stage in the legislative process before legislation becomes law) one day before the stonewall riots.
1971: First gay rights protest occurred on August 28th, 1971 on Parliament Hill with about 100 attendees. Another protest occurred at the same time with 20 people in Vancouver.
1973: Pride Week, a one-off event, took place from August 19-26 in cities across Canada. The year closed with homosexuality no longer considered a disorder from the Diagnostics and Statistics Manual of Mental Health Disorders
1974: The Brunswick Four are arrested in a Tavern in Toronto. Who were the Brunswick Four? Find out here.
1976: Montreal Olympic Cleanup – Montreal’s Mayor Drapeau attempted to clean up the city before the 1976 Olympics included raids on gay and lesbian bars in Montreal’s Stanley Street Gay Village.
1977: The year started with pickets against CBC for the station’s refusal to advertise the Gay Alliance for Equality’s Gayline. After the Montreal Bath raids the same year, Quebec added sexual orientation to the Human Rights Code on December 16, 1977.
1978: Buddies in Bad Times first stage production.
1978: Vancouver hosts its first Pride, and the new Immigration Act no longer prohibits homosexuals.
1979: Montreal and Vancouver host their first pride marches
1980: Edmonton hosts their first pride festival
1981: First Lesbian Pride March held.
1985: Parliamentary Committee on Equality Rights releases a report titled “Equality for All” on October 16 that highlights the intense discrimination experienced by homosexuals in Canada. You can view the report here.
1987: Winnipeg’s first official pride.
1988: MP Svend Robinson becomes Canada’s first openly Member of Parliament.
1989: Halifax’s first pride parade.
1990: The term two-spirit originates at Native American/First Nations Gay and Lesbian Conference in Winnipeg.
1991: Canadian federal court lifts ban against gays and lesbians in the military, and Sexual Orientation is ‘read into’ the Canadian Human Rights Act.
1993: Supreme Court rules that refugees can apply based on sexual orientation [Canada (SG) v Ward, [1993] 2 S.C.R. 698].
1994: First Pride March in Prince Edward Island.
1995: Sexual Orientation is included in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms [Egan v. Canada] 2. S.C.R. 513] – This Canadian Heritage Minute on Jim Egan helps to explain.
1995: Same-sex couples can adopt in Ontario.
1996: Bill C-33: Sexual Orientation included in the Canadian Human Rights Act.
1998: Supreme Court of Canada rules that provinces cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation, [Vriend v Alberta [1998] 1 S.C.R. 493].
1999: Same-sex couples have rights to equal treatment under the law
1999: In June, the Government votes to preserve the definition of ‘Marriage’. This means the definition stayed as a “union of a man and a woman.” In the same month Blockorama – black queen space, made its first appearance at Toronto pride.
1999: Bill 5 – Provincial Act to Include Same-Sex Couples – is introduced in the Ontario Legislature, creating a new same-sex category amending the Family Law Act and 60 other provincial laws.
2000: Bill C-23 is introduced that will allow same-sex couples who have lived together for more than a year the same benefits and obligations as common-law couples. However, in the same year, Alberta passes Bill 202 prohibiting allow same-sex marriage.
2002: Canada extends immigration rights to same-sex partners and the Northwest Territories add gender identity to the Human Rights Act.
2005: Bill C-38 – Civil Marriage Act becomes law in Canada, allowing same-sex couples the legal right to marry.
2009: Toronto’s first Trans March
2011: Saskatchewan Court of Appeals rules that marriage officers cannot refuse permits to same-sex couples on religious grounds.
2013: Bill C-279: Trans Rights are Human Rights passes in the House of Commons and Kathleen Wynne is elected as the first openly LGBT Premier.
2015: Alberta elects its first non-binary politician, Estefania Cortes-Vargas.
2016: The Pride Flag is raised for the first time on Parliament Hill and BLM protests for equality at Toronto’s pride parade with support from Black Queer Youth and other groups.
2017: Julie Lemieux of Quebec is the first transgender mayor to be elected in Canada. In the same year, Kael McKenzie of Manitoba is the first trans person to be appointed as a judge in Canada. Further, Bill C-16: Canadian Human Rights Act expanded to Gender Identity & Expression is passed in the House of Commons updating the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code to include the terms “gender identity” and “gender expression.”
2018: Bill 74 in Ontario recognizes November 20th as the official Trans Day of Remembrance.
2019: Canada’s blood ban is reduced but removed.
We have come a long way in Canada, but there is still more work to be done. The history of LGBTQ+ rights in Canada is very recent, and many of the people affected by these discriminatory policies are still alive today. We at The Quickie are always working to increase our understanding and allyship of the LGBTQ+ community.
We would like to wish everyone a Happy Pride Month! Stay safe, stay healthy, and have fun!
Resources:
Government of Canada, LGBTQ2 Secretariat
Looking for something to read? Check out this list of top LGBTQ+ blogs
Huffington Post, Al Donato, What LGBTQ Canadians will Remember from the 2010s