Saskatchewan Resources for Sexual Diversity
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Year: 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | Community History
Celebrating a History of Diversity:
Lesbian and Gay Life in Saskatchewan, 1971 - 2006 A Selected Annotated Chronology
The 1970s
1973
January |
Regina |
The University of Saskatchewan Homophile Association (USHA) formed at the U of S Regina campus.
In 1972 a psychology student named Ann Tarjanne had promoted gay awareness on campus.
USHA organizers Gary McDonald and Bev Siller reported difficulty in recruiting members.
The group helped students come out and made classroom presentations upon request. When
the University of Regina was established in 1974 the group became the University of
Regina Homophile Association. It ceased operation in 1980. |
[Bev Siller, “University Homophile Association (Letter),” The
Carillon, (February 9 1973) p. 2.] |
January |
Saskatoon |
Members of SGA were guests on CFQC Radio’s Glenys Joyce show. |
[ZFS Newsletter, v. 2 no. 2 (February 1973)] |
February 24 |
Saskatoon |
Bruce Garman and Doug Hellquist met with the board of the Saskatchewan Association on Human
Rights, who encouraged them to prepare and present a brief on antigay discrimination
to the provincial government. |
[ZFS News, v. II no. 3 (March 1973) p. 3.] |
March 17 |
Saskatoon |
A dance was held to celebrate the opening of a new rented facility for the Gemini Club
located at 124A 2nd Avenue North. The centre sponsored
a library and information phone line. General drop-ins were held on Tuesday and Wednesday
nights and a lesbian drop-in was often held on Friday evenings. The group sought new
members through newspaper advertisements. The Saturday night dances and socials were
popular and profitable providing the organization the financial resources for political
and social service activities. The club shared an office floor with the Saskatoon Women’s
Centre, which facilitated dialogue and cooperation with feminist women. Several of
these came out as lesbians. |
[“News of the Gay: Saskatoon: Gay centre opens,” The Body Politic, no.
8 (1973) p. 19.] |
July |
Montreal |
Long Time Coming, Canada’s first lesbian periodical, began publishing. |
|
July 17 |
Saskatoon |
Representatives of Regina’s two gay organizations visited Saskatoon to work with SGA
on a joint brief to the provincial government. |
[ZFS Newsletter, v. 2 no. 7 (July 1973)] |
August |
Saskatoon |
Bruce Garman of SGA requested that City Council proclaim a Gay Pride Week, stating that “this
week is set apart by gays to demonstrate their pride in their sexuality and their desire
to live their lives without fear of discrimination and oppression.” City Council
rejected the request and Pride was celebrated with a picnic at Cranberry Flats on September
2. |
[“Saskatoon won’t be gay,” Saskatoon StarPhoenix (SSP),
(August 14 1973) p. 4.] |
August 14 |
Saskatoon |
SGA presented a brief to Ned Shillington, Executive Assistant to Attorney-General Roy Romanow,
on behalf of the ZFS and the USHA. The brief called for the amendment of the Saskatchewan
Bill of Rights, the Fair Employment Practices Act, the Fair Accommodations Practices
Act and the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission Act to prohibit discrimination on
the basis of sexual orientation. Shillington said the proposed changes were long overdue
and that Romanow “felt positive” about the brief. |
[Bruce Garman, “The Brief: Another first for Sask?” ZFS
Newsletter v. 2 no. 2 (September 1973) p. 1.] |
August 25 |
Saskatoon |
The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (SHRC) recommended the expansion of anti-discrimination
legislation, including prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. It was
the first Canadian human rights commission to call for the inclusion of sexual orientation
in human rights laws. |
[SSP, (August 25 1973) p. 3.] |
October 6-7 |
Quebec City |
The first Canadian conference of gay organizations was held. |
|
November 21-23 |
Saskatoon and Regina |
A prominent American lesbian couple, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, undertook speaking engagements
in Saskatchewan. The couple were founding members of the early American lesbian organization
Daughters of Bilitis and authors of a bestselling book Lesbian/Woman. They
spoke at the U of S Regina campus on November 21st and
at the Saskatoon campus on the 23rd and did several interviews with the local media. |
[Beth Foster, “Lesbians dispel myths,” The Sheaf, (November
30 1993) p. 3. / Community Women’s Centre Newsletter (Regina) (December
1993)] |
Year: 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | Community History
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