.
On August 28, 2011 Queer Ontario graced the steps of Parliament Hill in Ottawa to commemorate the 40th anniversary of We Demand, the first nation-wide rally in Canada where gay men and women got together to demand legal and social reforms from the federal government. As John Wilson, an original member of the rally, noted in his keynote speech on Sunday: while a number of reforms have been achieved in the 40 years since 1971, there is still a lot of prejudice that needs to be challenged and abolished, particularly on the part of government. This includes the government’s refusal to extend human rights protections to transsexual, transgender, and intersex individuals, as well as its insistence on criminalizing HIV transmission.

Indeed, it is worth remembering that the extension of marriage rights to same-sex or same-gender couples did not finalize the struggle for queer and trans rights but, rather, re-invigorated it, as we now fight for the rights of those who are marginalized by the expectation to marry and privatize our sexualities; and those whose identities, relationships and livelihoods have yet to be recognized and accommodated by government.

Special thanks go out to Susan Gapka, Michael Burtch, Melanie Pasztor, and Brent Bauer for lending us their voices and their words of inspiration in highlighting all the work that needs to be done to create a trans-embracing, queer-loving, and sex-positive Canada. A very special thanks to A.J. Lowik for giving voice to our Demands list; as well as the over 100 people who attended the rally and shared their demands and their experiences of discrimination with us.

.

Queer Ontario is heading to OTTAWA!

On August 28, 1971, the first large scale ‘gay rights’ demonstration in the history of Canada was held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and Robson Square in Vancouver. Demanding changes to the discriminatory laws that then restricted the lives of gay men and women, the protesters took to Parliament Hill and Robson Square with their list of demands. These included changes to the criminal code, such as:

1. The removal of the nebulous terms “gross indecency” and “indecent act” from the Criminal Code and their replacement by a specific listing of offences, and the equalization of penalties for all remaining homosexual and heterosexual acts; and defining “in private” in the Criminal Code to mean “a condition of privacy.”

2. Removal of “gross indecency” and “buggery” as grounds for indictment as a “dangerous sexual offender” and for vagrancy.

3. A uniform age of consent for all female and male homosexual and heterosexual acts.

While we have made many great strides in the LGBTQ rights movement in the 40 years since, we are still victims of oppression, degradation, and erasure in all aspects of social life. We are deliberately written out of citizenship guides, we are discouraged from sharing our life experiences in our classrooms or workplaces, we are denied the ability to donate blood, and we are continually given misdiagnoses by medical professionals who make misinformed assumptions about who we are and what we do. Not to mention, of course, a protection of our gender identities and gender expressions under the Canadian Charter of Rights. All of these issues persist because of a pervasive public ignorance around LGBTQ issues created in no small part because of an inability for our elected officials to recognize these injustices and to stand up for our rights.

As a result, we still have demands.

To commemorate the original rally, as well as make a loud and proud statement to many of the issues we still face today, Queer Ontario is holding a rally on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sunday, August 28th, 2011 and we want you to be involved! Here are two ways:

1. Add your demands to our list
Let us know your demands! Drop us a line at info@queerontario.org or post a comment on this post and let us know what demands you have for the Federal government for the betterment of the lives of LGBTQ persons and communities!

2. Attend the rally!
Show up to Parliament Hill on Sunday, August 28 @ Noon as we commemorate the original rally and set forth our new list of demands. Then, come march with us as we merge into the Capital Pride Parade.

So get to it! Send us your recommendations and/or join us for the rally. Collectively, we are still here and we still demand!

Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=261819500498372

Since 2003, every May 17th, we celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia. On this day, we invite you to not only recognize the continued existence of homophobia and transphobia in our society but as well, to take a moment to celebrate the great strides we have and will continue to make in battling these oppressive ideologies.

Many different events are being held across Ontario to commemorate the day, here’s a partial list:

Durham
PFLAG Flag Raising: The Municipality of Clarington, 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville @ 9:00-9:30 AM
Facebook Event Link: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8933318069#!/group.php?gid=8933318069&v=app_2344061033

Halton
Halton Organization for Pride and Education (HOPE) presents an evening to honour the International Day Against Homophobia, Canyon Creek Chophouse, 2429 Fairview Street, Burlington @ 6:00-9:00 PM
Event Poster Link: http://haltonpride.org/idah_poster.pdf

Hamilton
Ontario Positive Space Teachers’ Association Network Launch: The Workers Arts and Heritage Centre, 51 Stuart Street, Hamilton @ 6:00-9:00 PM
Facebook Link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ontario-Positive-Space-Teachers-Association/217482684931328

The Well: The LGBTQ Community Wellness Centre of Hamilton presents: Tagging Hate…You’re “It” Hamilton, Skydragon Centre Bread & Roses Cafe, 27 King William Street, Hamilton @ 6:00-8:00 PM
Event Link: http://www.thewellhamilton.ca/2011/05/12/may-17-international-day-against-homophobia/

Pembroke
Algonquin College: Movie Night – “Prayers for Bobby”, Algonquin College-The Landing, 315 Pembroke Street East, Pembroke @ 6 PM
Event Details Link: http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/Calendar/Info.aspx?c=24663&calsel=5%2F15%2F2011 

Toronto
PFLAG Flag Raising: Toronto City Hall, Podium Green Roof, Toronto, 12:30-1:00 PM 
Guest Speakers Include: Brian Burke, GM, Toronto Maple Leafs; Councillors Gord Perks and Kristyn Wong-Tam 
Facebook Event Link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=216090771752399

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia Panel Discussion: the 519, 519 Church Street, Toronto @ 7:00-9:00 PM
Facebook Event Link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=128971940511864

Windsor
Pride in the City Committee presents International Day of Homophobia: Various Events, Various Locations @ ALL DAY(!)
Event Site & Schedule Link: http://www.windsorpride.com/cms/Content/pride-in-the-city-committee-presents-international-day-against-homophobia-monday-may-17th.html

However you choose to mark the day, make the most of it as you reflect on the past and future of our LGBTQ communities in our fight to rid the world of homophobia and transphobia!