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April Vancouver The Association for […]
When
1964-04
Description
April Vancouver The Association for Social Knowledge (ASK), the first homophile organization in Canada, was officially formed. It was inspired by the activities of the Mattachine Society in the United States, and was encouraged by Bruce Somers, a Vancouver interior decorator, who became ASK'S first president, ASK was an independent organization established "to help society to understand and accept variations from the sexual norm." Its membership was almost equally divided between gay men and lesbians from the beginning, ASK supported law reform and sponsored public lectures and discussion groups, coffee parties (Gab 'N' Java), social events and outings, a lending library, and, eventually, a drop-in and community centre. The ASK Newsletter was filled with serious articles (some reprinted from other sources), news of local events, and Association news, ASK collapsed in the summer of 1965 but revived the next year; it disbanded early in 1969.
