Social movements and equality seeking: The case of gay liberation in Canada

Canadian Journal of Political Science

Volumn 31, Issue 2, 1998, Pages 285-309

  Smith, Miriam ^a  

^a CARLETON UNIVERSITY   (Canada)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0039242069     PISSN: 00084239     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1017/s0008423900019806     Document Type: Article

References (88)

1. Peter H. Russell, "Overcoming Legal Formalism: The Treatment of the Constitution, the Courts and Judicial Behaviour in Canadian Political Science," Canadian Journal of Law and Society 1 (1986), 5-33.
2. In general, the Critical Legal Studies school has focused on these questions. This is a vast literature, but see Michael Mandel, The Charter of Rights and the Legalization of Politics in Canada (rev. ed.; Toronto: Thompson, 1994); and Allan Hutchinson, Waiting for Coraf: A Critique of Law and Rights (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1995).
3. In general, the Critical Legal Studies school has focused on these questions. This is a vast literature, but see Michael Mandel, The Charter of Rights and the Legalization of Politics in Canada (rev. ed.; Toronto: Thompson, 1994); and Allan Hutchinson, Waiting for Coraf: A Critique of Law and Rights (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1995).
4. Christopher P. Manfredi, Judicial Power and the Charter: Canada and the Paradox of Liberal Constitutionalism (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1993).
5. Gilles Bourque, "La sociologie, l'État, la nation," Cahiers de recherche sociologique 14 (1990), 43-65.
6. Rainer Knopff and F. L. Morton, Charter Politics (Scarborough: Nelson, 1992), 79ff.
7. Mandel, The Charter of Rights, 4 and 337ff. For a review of this literature, see Richard Sigurdson, "Left- and Right-Wing Charterphobia in Canada: A Critique of the Critics," International Journal of Canadian Studies 7-8 (1993), 95-116.
8. Mandel, The Charter of Rights, 4 and 337ff. For a review of this literature, see Richard Sigurdson, "Left- and Right-Wing Charterphobia in Canada: A Critique of the Critics," International Journal of Canadian Studies 7-8 (1993), 95-116.
9. Allan C. Hutchinson, "Supreme Court, Inc.," Literary Review of Canada 3 (1994), 6.
10. H. Kitschelt, "Political Opportunity Structures and Political Protest: Anti-Nuclear Movements in Four Democracies," British Journal of Political Science 16 (1986), 57-85; and Sidney Tarrow, Power in Movement: Social Movements, Collective Action and Politics (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994).
11. H. Kitschelt, "Political Opportunity Structures and Political Protest: Anti-Nuclear Movements in Four Democracies," British Journal of Political Science 16 (1986), 57-85; and Sidney Tarrow, Power in Movement: Social Movements, Collective Action and Politics (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994).
12. Cited in Doug McAdam, John D. McCarthy and Mayer N. Zald, "Introduction, in Doug McAdam et al., eds., Comparative Perspectives on Social Movements: Political Opportunities, Mobilizing Structures, and Cultural Framings (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996), 6.
13. Doug McAdam, "Conceptual Origins, Current Problems, Future Directions, in McAdam et al., eds., Comparative Perspectives, 25-26.
14. Kathleen Thelen and Sven Steino, "Historical Institutionalism in Comparative Politics," in Kathleen Thelen and Sven Steinmo, eds., Structuring Politics: Historical Institutionalism in Comparative Analysis (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992), 1-32.
15. Alan C. Cairns, Disruptions: Constitutional Struggles from the Charter to Meech, ed. by Douglas E. Williams (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1991).
16. Allan Hutchinson has provided the most complete discussion of the "rights talk" in the Canadian context (Hutchinson, Waiting for Coraf, 28ff.).
17. Kent Roach, "The Role of Litigation and the Charter in Interest Advocacy," in F. Leslie Seidle, ed., Equity and Community: The Charter, Interest Advocacy and Representation (Montreal: Institute for Research on Public Policy, 1993), 160.
18. Gay liberation was the term used by gay rights groups themselves during the 1970s. Thereafter, the term gay liberation disappeared in large part (although not completely) from the lexicon of lesbian and gay politics in the 1980s and 1990s.
19. For example, F. L. Morton, "To Bring Judicial Appointments out of the Closet," Globe and Mail (Toronto), September 22, 1997, A19.
20. David M. Rayside and Evert A. Lindquist, "AIDS Activism and the State in Canada," Studies in Political Economy 39 (1992), 37-76;
21. and David Rayside, "Gay Rights and Family Values: The Passage of Bill 7 in Ontario," Studies in Political Economy 26 (1988), 109-47.
22. Didi Herman, Rights of Passage: Struggles for Lesbian and Gay Legal Equality (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1994), 24. For similar generalizations about organizing, see Mary Eaton, "Lesbians, Gays and the Struggle for Equality Rights: Reversing the Progressive Hypothesis," Dalhousie Law Journal 17 (1994), 130-86.
23. Didi Herman, Rights of Passage: Struggles for Lesbian and Gay Legal Equality (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1994), 24. For similar generalizations about organizing, see Mary Eaton, "Lesbians, Gays and the Struggle for Equality Rights: Reversing the Progressive Hypothesis," Dalhousie Law Journal 17 (1994), 130-86.
24. Barry D. Adam, The Rise of a Gay and Lesbian Movement (rev. ed.; Boston: Twayne, 1995), 82.
25. Rights and liberation may be antithetical strategies or contradictory ideologies today. The debate on the political and legal efficacy of rights claims in the current context of queer politics is beyond the scope of this article.
26. Stuart A. Scheingold, The Politics of Rights: Lawyers, Public Policy and Political Change (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1974), 148.
27. Brian Waite, "Strategy for Gay Liberation," The Body Politic 3 (1972), 4. The Body Politic (1971-1987) was Canada's premier gay liberation publication and played an important role in the development of the Canadian lesbian and gay rights movement.
28. Brian Waite, "Strategy for Gay Liberation," The Body Politic 3 (1972), 4. The Body Politic (1971-1987) was Canada's premier gay liberation publication and played an important role in the development of the Canadian lesbian and gay rights movement.
29. Ibid.
30. Editorial, "Never Going Back," The Body Politic 8 (1973), 2.
31. Interview, Chris Bearchell, February 8-9, 1996.
32. Rayside and Lindquist, "AIDS Activism."
33. Ross Higgins, "L'impasse linguistique," Sortie 14 (1984), 10-11.
34. "National Gay Election Coalition," The Body Politic 6 (Autumn 1972), 11.
35. Interview, Tom Warner, September 19, 1995.
36. Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives (CLGA), National Gay Rights Coalition, Proposal for a National Gay Rights Coalition, 1.
37. "No Small Accomplishment," The Body Politic 14 (1974), 2.
38. CLGA, National Gay Rights Coalition, Statement of Principles, Structure and Programme of the National Gay Rights Coalition, adopted June 29-30, 1975 and amended September 4-6, 1976, 1.
39. Ibid., 4-5.
40. Ibid., 6.
41. CLGA, NGRC Forum, Bulletin of the National Gay Rights Coalition, 2 (1977), 1.
42. For example, CLGA, Community Briefs, Gay Community Centre (Saskatoon), The Homosexual Minority in Saskatchewan (June 1976); GATE Edmonton, Homosexuals: A Minority without Rights (March 1, 1976);
43. For example, CLGA, Community Briefs, Gay Community Centre (Saskatoon), The Homosexual Minority in Saskatchewan (June 1976); GATE Edmonton, Homosexuals: A Minority without Rights (March 1, 1976);
44. and Coalition for Gay Rights in Ontario, Discrimination and the Gay Minority (Brief to members of the Ontario Legislature, March 1978).
45. CLGA, Community Briefs, Manitoba Homosexuals: A Minority without Rights (Brief presented to the Attorney General of Manitoba and the Manitoba Human Rights Commission by Gays for Equality, Winnipeg, 1974), 10.
46. Becki Ross, The House that Jill Built: A Lesbian Nation in Formation (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1995), 164-65.
47. Rayside, "Gay Rights and Family Values."
48. R. Brian Howe, "The Evolution of Human Rights Policy in Ontario," this JOURNAL 24 (1991), 783-802.
49. CLGA, Coalition for Gay Rights in Ontario, 82-07/01/13, "Letter to Gays of Ottawa from GATE" (emphasis in the original).
50. CLGA, Coalition for Gay Rights in Ontario, "Memo to groups," August 23, 1976.
51. CLGA, Coalition for Gay Rights in Ontario, 82-017/01/4, "Working Paper for Provincial Affairs Workshop."
52. CLGA, Coalition for Gay Rights in Ontario, 82-017/01/13, "CGRO Strategy to Put Sexual Orientation in the Ontario Human Rights Code - Phase 2," September 4, 1977.
53. CLGA, Coalition for Gay Rights in Ontario, "CGRO: Success or Failure?"
54. Arnold Bruner, "Sexual Orientation and Equality Rights," in Anne F. Bayefsky and Mary Eberts, eds., Equality Rights and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Toronto: Carswell, 1985), 460-61; Herman, Rights of Passage, 23; and Ken Popert, "John Damien," The Body Politic 135 (1987), 15.
55. Arnold Bruner, "Sexual Orientation and Equality Rights," in Anne F. Bayefsky and Mary Eberts, eds., Equality Rights and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Toronto: Carswell, 1985), 460-61; Herman, Rights of Passage, 23; and Ken Popert, "John Damien," The Body Politic 135 (1987), 15.
56. Arnold Bruner, "Sexual Orientation and Equality Rights," in Anne F. Bayefsky and Mary Eberts, eds., Equality Rights and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Toronto: Carswell, 1985), 460-61; Herman, Rights of Passage, 23; and Ken Popert, "John Damien," The Body Politic 135 (1987), 15.
57. Ibid.
58. Ibid.
59. On the bath raids and The Body Politic trials, see Ed Jackson and Stan Persky, eds., Flaunting It! A Decade of Journalism from The Body Politic (Vancouver and Toronto: New Star Books and Pink Triangle Press, 1982); Tim McGaskell, "The Bath Raids and Gay Politics," in Frank Cunningham, ed., Social Movements, Social Change: The Politics and Practice of Organizing (Toronto: Between the Lines, 1988), 169-88;
60. On the bath raids and The Body Politic trials, see Ed Jackson and Stan Persky, eds., Flaunting It! A Decade of Journalism from The Body Politic (Vancouver and Toronto: New Star Books and Pink Triangle Press, 1982); Tim McGaskell, "The Bath Raids and Gay Politics," in Frank Cunningham, ed., Social Movements, Social Change: The Politics and Practice of Organizing (Toronto: Between the Lines, 1988), 169-88;
61. and Gary Kinsman, The Regulation of Desire: Homo and Hetero Sexualities (2nd ed.; Montreal: Black Rose Books, 1996), 338ff.
62. See, for example, GATE'S constitution, Archives Collective (Vancouver), Gay Alliance Toward Equality (GATE), "Constitution," 1971, 1973.
63. W. W. Black, "Gay Alliance Toward Equality v. Vancouver Sun," Osgoode Hall Law Journal 17 (1979), 649.
64. Jeff Richstone and J. Stuart Russell, "Shutting the Gate: Gay Civil Rights in the Supreme Court of Canada," McGill Law Journal 97 (1981), 92-117; Richard A. Goreham, "Human Rights Code of British Columbia," Canadian Bar Review 59 (1981), 165-79; and Harry Kopyto, "The Gay Alliance Case Reconsidered," Osgoode Hall Law Journal 18 (1980), 639-52.
65. Jeff Richstone and J. Stuart Russell, "Shutting the Gate: Gay Civil Rights in the Supreme Court of Canada," McGill Law Journal 97 (1981), 92-117; Richard A. Goreham, "Human Rights Code of British Columbia," Canadian Bar Review 59 (1981), 165-79; and Harry Kopyto, "The Gay Alliance Case Reconsidered," Osgoode Hall Law Journal 18 (1980), 639-52.
66. Jeff Richstone and J. Stuart Russell, "Shutting the Gate: Gay Civil Rights in the Supreme Court of Canada," McGill Law Journal 97 (1981), 92-117; Richard A. Goreham, "Human Rights Code of British Columbia," Canadian Bar Review 59 (1981), 165-79; and Harry Kopyto, "The Gay Alliance Case Reconsidered," Osgoode Hall Law Journal 18 (1980), 639-52.
67. "Gate vs. Sun: A Chronology of the Case," Gay Tide 17 (1977), 2-3; and "Supreme Court to Hear First Gay Rights Case," The Body Politic 43 (1978), 7.
68. "Gate vs. Sun: A Chronology of the Case," Gay Tide 17 (1977), 2-3; and "Supreme Court to Hear First Gay Rights Case," The Body Politic 43 (1978), 7.
69. "On to the Supreme Court," Gay Tide 17 (1977), 2-3.
70. Interview, Don Hann, February 14, 1996.
71. "Gate vs. Sun," 2.
72. Ron Dayman, "Québec: Five Years of the Movement," The Body Politic 29 (1976), 20-23; Ross Higgins, "Pour une histoire gaie de Montréal," Sortie 4 (March 1983), 7; "Du bon boulot. . .et un peu d'essoufflement," Le Berdache 5 (November 1979), 3; and "Les gai(e)s du Québec protestent," Le Devoir (Montreal), October 24, 1977, 6.
73. Ron Dayman, "Québec: Five Years of the Movement," The Body Politic 29 (1976), 20-23; Ross Higgins, "Pour une histoire gaie de Montréal," Sortie 4 (March 1983), 7; "Du bon boulot. . .et un peu d'essoufflement," Le Berdache 5 (November 1979), 3; and "Les gai(e)s du Québec protestent," Le Devoir (Montreal), October 24, 1977, 6.
74. Ron Dayman, "Québec: Five Years of the Movement," The Body Politic 29 (1976), 20-23; Ross Higgins, "Pour une histoire gaie de Montréal," Sortie 4 (March 1983), 7; "Du bon boulot. . .et un peu d'essoufflement," Le Berdache 5 (November 1979), 3; and "Les gai(e)s du Québec protestent," Le Devoir (Montreal), October 24, 1977, 6.
75. Ron Dayman, "Québec: Five Years of the Movement," The Body Politic 29 (1976), 20-23; Ross Higgins, "Pour une histoire gaie de Montréal," Sortie 4 (March 1983), 7; "Du bon boulot. . .et un peu d'essoufflement," Le Berdache 5 (November 1979), 3; and "Les gai(e)s du Québec protestent," Le Devoir (Montreal), October 24, 1977, 6.
76. Le Berdache 22 (1981), 38 (emphasis in the original).
77. Ibid., 46.
78. François Barbeau, "Les homosexuels réclament une nouvelle formulation des droits civils," Le Devoir (Montreal) October 27, 1977, 9; Gilles Garneau, "Victoire pour les gais," Le Berdache 6 (1979-1980), 7-9; and Stuart Russell and Michael Lynch, "Gay Rights: Oui!" The Body Politic 40 (1978), 4-5.
79. François Barbeau, "Les homosexuels réclament une nouvelle formulation des droits civils," Le Devoir (Montreal) October 27, 1977, 9; Gilles Garneau, "Victoire pour les gais," Le Berdache 6 (1979-1980), 7-9; and Stuart Russell and Michael Lynch, "Gay Rights: Oui!" The Body Politic 40 (1978), 4-5.
80. François Barbeau, "Les homosexuels réclament une nouvelle formulation des droits civils," Le Devoir (Montreal) October 27, 1977, 9; Gilles Garneau, "Victoire pour les gais," Le Berdache 6 (1979-1980), 7-9; and Stuart Russell and Michael Lynch, "Gay Rights: Oui!" The Body Politic 40 (1978), 4-5.
81. Garneau, "Victoire pour les gais," 7.
82. Ibid.
83. "Éditorial,́ Le Berdache 3 (1979), 1.
84. "1980: une menace, une promesse," Le Berdache 7 (February 1980), 3.
85. Garneau, "Victoire pour les gais," 7-9. See also Nicole Duplé, "Homosexualité et droits à l'égalité dans les Chartes canadienne et québécoise," Les Cahiers de droit 25 (1984), 836ff.
86. Garneau, "Victoire pour les gais," 7-9. See also Nicole Duplé, "Homosexualité et droits à l'égalité dans les Chartes canadienne et québécoise," Les Cahiers de droit 25 (1984), 836ff.
87. Ross Higgins discusses the reasons for a distinct gay politics in Quebec in "L'impasse linguistique," Sortie 14 (1984), 9-10.
88. Michael Lynch, "The End of the 'Human Rights' Decade," The Body Politic 54 (1979), 25-26.