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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


1992

January Saskatoon
GLHS opened its doors at 300-241 2nd Avenue South with two half-time paid employees – Gens Hellquist and Sheri McConnell. GLHS resumed the phone line service previously operated by GLSS. By the spring of 1993 eleven groups were operating out of the GLHS facility.
[Perceptions, v. 9 no. 8 (December 18 1991) p. 9.]
February 10 Saskatoon
The U of S College of Law Guest Speakers Committee presented Christopher Kendall who spoke on the topic Homophobic legal education and the non-accommodation of difference. Kendall was the first openly gay president of a Canadian law students’ association.
[Event flyer – SAB NR]
March 27-30
The Saskatchewan conference of the United Church passed a resolution after much debate asking that ten pulpits in Saskatchewan be opened to self-identified lesbian and gay ministers over the next three years.
[Perceptions, v. 10 no. 4 (June 10 1992) p. 8. / “Church wants gay, lesbian ministers,” SSP, (June 1 1992) p. A1.]
April 24-27 Saskatoon
The National Film Board presented its feature documentary A Kind of Family at the Broadway Theatre. The film explored the relationship of gay Winnipeg City Councillor Glenn Murray and his HIV positive foster son Mike. Murray spoke at the Saskatoon premiere. The film was later presented on June 18 at the Regina Public Library.
[Perceptions, v. 10 no. 2 (March 18 1992) p. 20.]
May 1 Saskatoon
Ferron performed at the Broadway Theatre in support of her latest album Phantom Center.
[Perceptions, v. 10 no. 2 (March 18 1992) p. 20.]
June Saskatoon
Perceptions reported the death of Bob Mike (Okemawassis) of the Beardy’s reserve near Duck Lake. Mike had traveled thousands of kilometers to aboriginal communities telling his story of living with AIDS. In 1999 Good Earth Productions produced an educational video entitled The Story of Bob Mike (available at the U of S Education Library).
[Perceptions, v. 10 no. 5 (June 29 1992) p. 5. / Warren Goulding, “Bobby Mike finally found peace at home,” SSP, (July 13 1996) p. C1.]
June 10 Saskatoon
Gens Hellquist of GLHS and Kelly Faber, manager of Numbers, met with Police Chief Owen Maguire to discuss concerns over a perceived increase in gay bashings and inadequate police response.
[Perceptions, v. 10 no. 4 (June 10 1992) p. 9.]
June 10-14 Saskatoon
The final Coronation Ball of the Imperial Court of the Prairie Lily was held at Syd’s Garage. The Saskatoon court disbanded in early 1993 after a period of burnout and internal conflicts.
[Perceptions, v. 10. no. 3 (April 29 1992) p. 12.]
June 27 Regina
Common Ground hosted a Pride potluck and dance at Wesley United Church featuring entertainment by Cajun dance band Louisiana Jane, singers Noele Hall, Janet Harvey and comedian Sandy Rapley.
[Perceptions, v. 10 no. 5 (June 10 1992) p. 14.]
June 30 Saskatoon
CHE sponsored a concert at the Broadway Theatre by the American musical duo Romanovsky & Phillips, “self-professed ambassadors of homosexuality.”
[Perceptions, v. 10 no. 4 (June 10 1992) p. 7.]
August Toronto
The Ontario Court of Appeal ruled in Haig and Birch v Canada that the federal government’s failure to include sexual orientation in the Canadian Human Rights Act was discriminatory. Justice Minister Kim Campbell introduced an amendment to the act in December but Parliament was soon dissolved for a general election.
August Saskatoon
Ian C. Nelson directed a production of Harvey Fierstein’s On Tidy Endings at the Saskatoon Fringe Festival.
[“Play about AIDS touches heart,” SSP, (August 5 1992) p. D1.]
September Saskatoon
In response to the Haig and Birch v Canada decision SHRC Chair Theresa Holizki announced that the Saskatchewan commission was now prepared to accept complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation.
[Perceptions, v. 10 no. 6 (September 16 1992) p. 11. / “Gay ruling praised,” RLP, (September 3 1992) p. A9.]
September 5 Saskatoon
Numbers held its tenth anniversary party at 493A – 2nd Avenue North.
[Perceptions, v. 10 no. 5 (July 29 1992) p. 7.]
September 26 Toronto
Gay rights activist Doug Wilson died with AIDS. In 1982 Wilson moved to Toronto where he worked as a race relations advisor to the Board of Education. In 1988 he became the first openly gay candidate from a major party to contest a federal election when he ran for the NDP in Toronto-Rosedale. He was a co-founder of Rites magazine and of AIDS Action Now. Shortly before his death he completed Labour of Love, the third volume of the Boys Like Us trilogy that wasbegun by his partner Peter McGehee.
[“Gay rights activist, Doug Wilson, 42, dead,” SSP, (September 29 1992) p. A4.]
September 27 Regina
The Adelfoi Inter-denominational Bible Fellowship held its first Holy Communion service at the Scarth Street Station. The Christian group had been founded in June with the help of Anglican priest Rev. Helena-Rose Houdcroft, who provided ministry with the permission of the Right Rev. Eric Bays, Anglican Bishop of Qu’Appelle.
[Perceptions, v. 10 no. 8 (December 9 1992) p. 13.]
October 14 - November 15 Saskatoon
The Photographers Gallery presented 100 Years of Homosexuality, an exhibition of photographs by Canadian LG artists. The show was curated by Doug Townsend and included Saskatchewan artist Dik Campbell. A 42-page catalogue documented the exhibition.
[Perceptions, v. 10 no. 7 (October 28 1992) p. 2. / “Exhibit challenges myths about homosexuality,” SSP, (October 31 1992) p. C2.]
October 4 Regina
AIDS Regina hosted an exhibition of eleven AIDS memorial quilts.
[Perceptions, v. 10 no. 6 (September 16 1992) p. 13.]
October 9-11 Regina
AIDS Regina presented Guy Michaud’s Ryan’s Hope, a play about a teenager confronting AIDS in his family.
[Bernard Pilon, “Education key to AIDS play,” RLP, (October 10 1992) p. D5.]
October 14-15 Saskatoon and Regina
Vancouver writer Patrick Roscoe, author of God’s Peculiar People, performed at the Saskatoon Public Library and the following day at the Regina Public Library.
[Perceptions, v. 10 no. 6 (September 16 1992) p. 6.]
November Ottawa
The federal court lifted the ban on homosexuals serving in the Canadian Armed Forces.
November Saskatoon
Numbers hosted a Leather Fact and Fantasy event including afternoon workshops and evening shows of ‘leather theatre’ by performers from Vancouver, Seattle, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg.
[Perceptions, v. 10 no. 7 (October 28 1992) p. 12.]
November 12 Saskatoon
Donna Greschner, newly appointed SHRC Chief Commissioner, wrote an open letter to Justice Minister Bob Mitchell urging that the Human Rights Code be amended quickly to include protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, economic status and family status. She described these protections as long overdue and needed to ensure that “Saskatchewan regains its historic lead role in human rights legislation.”
[Perceptions, v. 10 no. 8 (December 9 1992) p. 10. / “Greschner seeks protection for gays, lesbians,” SSP, (November 14 1992) p. A1.]
December 1 Saskatoon
U of S art student Christopher Lefler and a group of protestors attempted to disrupt a Day Without Art AIDS event at the U of S Convocation Hall.
[“Protestors say gay, lesbian rights need protection,” SSP, (December 2 1992) p. A14.]
December 5 Saskatoon
Big Brothers announced the lifting of its ban against gay men. According to a new policy gay men could apply to become Big Brothers but were asked to indicate their sexual orientation on volunteer profiles given to parents for approval.
[“Big Brothers drop gay restriction,” SSP, (December 5 1992) p. A3.]
December 14 Saskatoon
After being rejected by the Red Cross during an attempt to donate blood, Jason Roy complained to the SHRC about the wording on questionnaires designed to weed out homosexual men as blood donors.
[Perceptions, v. 11 no. 1 (January 27 1993) p. 11. / “Gay activist takes issue with blood donor form,” SSP, (January 26 1993) p. A4.]