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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 1990s


1990

1990 Regina
Gail Bowen published Deadly Appearances, the first in her popular Joanne Kilbourn mystery series. In her first outing Joanne learns some queer truths about political life in the Queen City.
May Saskatoon
A Saskatoon chapter of Integrity, a group for lesbians and gays in the Anglican Church, was established.
[Perceptions, v. 8 no. 4 (May 30 1990) p. 10.]
May 18 Regina
The second Mr. & Miss Gay Regina pageant was held at the Performing Arts Centre.
[Perceptions, v. 8 no. 3 (April 11 1990) p. 23.]
June 1-3 Swift Current
Delegates to the provincial conference of the United Church of Canada overwhelmingly rejected a petition asking the church to ban homosexuals from ministry.
[“Delegates uphold policy,” Swift Current Sun, (June 4 1990) p. 1.]
June 1-2 Saskatoon
The People’s Video Centre and AKA Gallery presented Power to Disbelieve, a program of eleven videos by Canadian and international female curated by Nikki Forrest and Josephine Mills.
[Perceptions, v. 8 no. 5 (July 11 1990) p. 21.]
June 16 Saskatoon
The ICPL held its second Coronation Ball Rainbow Cabaret: A Family Reunion at the Granite Curling Club.
[Perceptions, v. 8 no. 3 (April 11 1990) p. 25.]
June 18-24 Regina
Regina’s Pride Week controversy. When its request for a civic proclamation was rejected, the Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee purchased a full-page ad in the Leader-Post outlining Pride’s history and the legal situation of lesbians and gays. The ad included the names of 111 individuals and groups who had contributed to its cost. Police Chief Ernie Reimer refused to issue a parade permit stating that it wasn’t appropriate to parade one’s sexual orientation and that he couldn’t justify assigning police resources to the event. The march from College Avenue to the Legislature went forward without a permit and marchers stayed on the sidewalk for most of its length. Members of the Pride Committee subsequently filed complaints against the city, Mayor Doug Archer, Chief Reimer, and the Leader-Post in connection with the week’s events. The SHRC declined to pursue most of the complaints, since sexual orientation was not yet a prohibited ground of discrimination.
[“Lesbian and Gay Pride Week (Ad),” RLP, (June 16 1990) p. C14. / Perceptions, v. 8 no. 5 (July 11 1990) p. 8-9. / Perceptions, v. 8 no. 7 (October 10 1990) p. 9.]
August 4-11 Vancouver
Saskatchewan athletes participated in Celebration’ 90: Gay Games III including the Regina Monarchs (a men’s volleyball team), a provincial women’s ice hockey team, a men’s softball team from Saskatoon, as well as individuals competing in badminton, croquet and swimming.
[Perceptions, v. 5 no. 5 (July 11 1990) p. 7.]
August 25 Saskatoon
The AKA Gallery presented Quarantine of the Mind, a performance work by Toronto artist David MacLean. The piece examined the psychological quarantine of gay men forced back into the closet by AIDS. MacLean performed the work again at Regina’s Neutral Ground Gallery on September 15.
[Perceptions, v. 8 no. 6 (August 29 1990) p. 15.]
October 15 - November 2 Saskatoon
AIDS Awareness, a joint community effort to inform Saskatoon about the facts and fallacies of AIDS was sponsored by 30 University and community groups. The centerpiece was VISUAL AIDS, a touring international exhibition of AIDS posters. Other events included a public address by AIDS activist June Callwood, two theatre productions, library exhibits, film and video screenings, lectures and conferences dealing with Christian responses and pastoral care.
[Perceptions, v. 8 no. 6 (August 29 1990) p. 10-11. / “Community launches major AIDS awareness campaign,” Saskatoon Mirror, (October 19 1990) p. A3. / “AIDS teaching valuable lesson, Callwood says,” SSP, (October 23 1990) p. A12.]
October 18-20 Regina
AIDS Regina presented two AIDS themed plays, Harvey Fierstein’s On Tidy Endings and Christopher Durang’s Seeking Wild, at the U of R Arena Theatre.
[Event flyer – SAB NR]
October 22 Saskatoon
David Dombowsky of Citizens for Social Justice requested that City Council prevent a showing of safer sex videos for gay men in a room at the Saskatoon Public Library. The event was sponsored by GLUS as a contribution to the AIDS Awareness program. Councillor Mark Thompson supported the request declaring that he found any portrayal of homosexuality offensive. Chief Librarian Sandra Anderson, after initially suggesting to GLUS that they might seek a rental elsewhere, defended their right to rent a library room for the program. Her decision was supported by the Library Board and the Saskatoon Community Health Unit who provided public health nurses to serve as hosts. The presentation on October 26 drew a packed crowd of 100 – mostly gay men but also a few who were opposed to the event or merely curious about the controversy.
[Perceptions, v. 8 no. 8 (November 21 1990) p. 7-8. / “Thompson fails to stop ‘erotic’ AIDS film,” SSP, (October 23 1990) p. A10. / “Board backs AIDS film,” SSP, (October 25 1990) p. A7.]
October 30 Saskatoon
Fifty parents protested to the Saskatoon Catholic School Board about videos being used to educate students about AIDS, including one that portrayed a gay priest with AIDS.
[“AIDS video content upsets parents,” SSP, (October 31 1990) p. A13.]
November 1 Saskatoon
Ralph Wushke succeeded Erin Shoemaker as executive director of AIDS Saskatoon. Wushke was a Lutheran minister, a journalist and a founding member of EGALE Regina.
[Perceptions, v. 8 no. 8 (November 21 1990) p. 10.]
November 22 Regina
Holly Near, American singer-composer and activist for peace and justice performed, for the Regina Guild of Folk Arts.
[Perceptions, v. 8 no. 7 (October 10 1990) p. 27.]
December 16 Saskatoon
Uriel and Friends, a concert of classical music to benefit persons living with AIDS, was presented at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral. This was the first of four annual musical AIDS benefits organized by Uriel (Rick) Kreklewich before his death in 1994.
[Event flyer – SAB NR]