December 9–22 Toronto On December 9, […]

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1978-12-09 – 1978-12-22

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December 9–22 Toronto On December 9, 1978, policemen raided the Barracks baths (56 Widmer Street) and arrested twenty-eight men. Twenty-three of the men were charged with being found-ins in a common bawdy house, and five with keeping a common bawdy house. George Hislop, president of CHAT, was one of the men charged as a keeper. About twenty policemen participated in the raid, and used hammers and crowbars to smash in doors and open lockers. Police also seized the 800-name membership list for the Barracks, as well as membership cards. This is believed to be the first organized assault by police on a gay bathhouse in Toronto's history. On December 11, about 400 people attended a community meeting held at the 519 Church Street Community Centre to discuss options for an organized action against the police raid. A press conference was held December 12, and on December 16, 400 people marched from the 519 Church Street Community Centre to Toronto City Hall for a rally, which was addressed by Alderman Dan Heap, Tim McCaskell of the Body Politic, Rev. Brent Hawkes of MCC, and others. On December 12, the accused men appeared in provincial court before Judge Jack Climans, pleaded not guilty, and were remanded. On December 22, the December 9th Defence Fund was formalized, with Michael Laking as chair and Rev. Brent Hawkes as treasurer. The fund hoped to raise up to $100,000 to help cover the legal expenses of the owners and found-ins. (See also December 18, 1978; January 22, 1979; March 5, 1979; June 2, 1979; July 6, 1979; October 29, 1979; November 19, 1979; November 28, 1979; December 10, 1979; January 4, 1980; February 26, 1980; April 8, 1980; June 4, 1980; September 8, 1980; November 17, 1980; February 5, 1981; March 16, 1981; March 20, 1981; March 30–April 21, 1981; April 2, 1981; April 22, 1981; April 23, 1981; May 1981; May 4, 1981; June 12, 1981; June 23, 1981; October 15, 1981; November 20, 1981; and December 11, 1981.)

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December 18 Toronto Staff Sgt. Gary […]January 22 Toronto The December 9th […]March 5 Toronto A general meeting of […]June 2 Toronto Gay demonstrators […]July 6 Toronto Don Franco, charged […]October 29 Toronto In his capacity […]November 19 Toronto The Barracks […]November 28 Toronto The men charged […]December 10 Toronto Gay activist […]February 26 Toronto The seventeen […]April 8 Toronto Justice Donald […]June 4 Toronto Seventeen men charged […]September 8 Toronto The Ontario […]November 17 Ottawa Three justices of […]February 5 Toronto Almost 200 police […]March 16 Toronto Andy Fabo, George […]March 20 Toronto A police search […]March 30–April 21 Toronto After […]April 2 Toronto More than 200 people […]April 22 Toronto One day after the […]April 23 Toronto Representatives […]May Toronto RTPC developed a […]May 4 Toronto Defence lawyer Morris […]June 12 Toronto In the trial of the […]June 23 Toronto Ontario Provincial […]October 15 Toronto The last three […]November 20 Toronto Cleveland -based […]December 11 Toronto Raymond Diemer […]

All Places

Toronto Barracks Bathhouse 519 Community Centre Toronto City Hall

All People

Dan Heap George Hislop Tim McCaskell Brent Hawkes Jack Climans Michael Laking

All Organizations

Provincial Court of Ontario / Ontario Court of Justice Toronto Police Service Community Homophile Association of Toronto CHAT Metropolitan Community Church MCC Toronto

All Periodicals

The Body Politic

All Citations

"Whips, Chains and Sex Aids Found—26 Males Charged, Toronto Star, four star ed., 11 December 1978, p. B11.Tom Warner, Never Going Back: A History of Queer Activism in Canada (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2002), p. 109 Paul Trollope, "Toronto Cops Raid Gay Bath, Charge 28 Men: Barracks Hit as 'Prostitution Front'—Angry Community Protests Harassment," Body Politic, no. 50 (1979), pp. 12–13 Marina Strauss, "Homosexual Baths: A 'Safer Place for Casual Sex,'" Globe and Mail, metro ed., 13 December 1978, p. 5 Jay Scott, "Bawdy Houses: Loose Constructions with Victorian Connections," Fanfare (Globe and Mail), 20 December 1978, p. 5 John Schenk, "Club Alleged Front for Male Prostitution," Toronto Sun, 10 December 1978, p. 2 "Raided: Police Arrest 26 Men at the Barracks," Metro Community News 6 (5 January 1979): 1 Geoff Mains, "Will Your Own Home Be Next?" SPAG News (Vancouver), 1, no. 6 (April 1979): 6–7 "Leading Homosexual Spokesman Charged," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 11 December 1978, p. 5 "The Barracks Case," Metro Community News 6 (2 February 1979): 11 "Barracks Raided!" OUT!, 1, no. 3 (February 1978): 9 "En bref," Gai(e)s du Québec: Journal, 1, no. 5 (February–March 1979): 2 Andy Fabo, "Bawdy of Evidence: The Bathhouse Raids Weren't About Morals," Xtra!, no. 424 (25 January 2001), p. 22 David Garmaise, "Bawdy Politics," Forum (CLGRC, Montréal), 4, no. 1 (Winter 1979): (5)"Homosexual Leaders Attack 'Conspirators,'" Toronto Sun, 13 December 1978, p. 40 "Homosexuals in March 'For Rights,'" Toronto Sun, 17 December 1978, p. 26 Mike Johnstone, "Police Visit Bath," Forum (CLGRC, Montréal), 4, no. 1 (Winter 1979): (2)

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Andy Fabo, "Bawdy of Evidence: The […]

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