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Gay Pride Flag Saskatchewan Resources for Sexual Diversity
Saskatchewan Resources for Sexual Diversity

Celebrating a History of Diversity:

Lesbian and Gay Life in Saskatchewan, 1971 - 2006
A Selected Annotated Chronology

The 1980s

1980

1980 Saskatoon
The city’s first commercial gay club After Midnight was established at 102 Avenue B South (at 22nd Street) in late 1980. It was managed by David Allen and first operated as an after hours club. By 1982 it had been renamed Numbers and operated as a private members’ club. Numbers attracted a significant portion of the clientele of the Gay Community Centre, increasing the financial difficulties facing that organization.
[Gay Saskatchewan, (October 1980) / Gay Times, no. 1 (May/June 1982)]
January 20 Saskatoon
The Native Gay Group presented a native dinner and social at the GCCS.
[Gay Saskatchewan, (March 1980)]
March – April Saskatoon
The GAU presented a weekly film series at Place Riel Theatre screening August and July, A Special Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, and Victim.
[GAZE, (March 1980)]
April Regina
The Regina Gay Community hosted the annual prairie conference of lesbians and gays. The Saturday dance was described as “probably the largest in Regina history.”
[Gay Saskatchewan, (Summer 1980)]
May 2 Ottawa
Conservative MP Pat Carney introduced the first private members’ bill to include sexual orientation in the Canadian Human Rights Act.
June 2 Ottawa
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers ratified a contract including a non-discrimination clause protecting lesbians and gay men. This was the first contract with a federal agency to include such protection.
July 5
The national convention of the Liberal Party adopted a resolution to include sexual orientation in the Canadian Human Rights Act.
August
The General Council of the United Church of Canada approved a study document entitled In God’s Image: Male and Female. The document advocated acceptance of gays and lesbians into the ministry and said that premarital and extramarital sex might be acceptable under certain circumstances.
August Regina
The Gay Community of Regina sold its Smith Street house and moved to rented premises at 2069 Broad Street. The Broad Street club initially operated under special occasion permits and was originally open only on Friday and Saturday nights. In 1981 the club was officially renamed Rumours. For some time it also operated Den’s Garage as an after hours club in an adjacent building.
[Perceptions, no. 34 (1987) p. 4.]
October 7 Saskatoon
The USSU presented Craig Russell in concert at the Centennial Auditorium. The celebrated female impersonator was the star of the Canadian hit movie Outrageous. The Sheaf described Russell as “a very special talent for a very special audience.”
[“Boys will be girls,” The Sheaf, (October 2 1980) p. 13. / “Impersonator Craig Russell,” SSP, (October 8 1989) p. D1.]

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