June 28-July 1 Ottawa The National […]
When
1975-06-28 – 1975-07-01
Description
June 28-July 1 Ottawa The National Gay Rights Coalition/Coalition nationale pour les droits des homosexuels (NGRC/CNDH) was officially formed at the third national gay conference, organized by GO and held at the University of Ottawa. The event was the largest and most geographically representative meeting of lesbians and gays in Canada to that time. About 200 people took part in the conference, which included caucuses, workshops, street theatre, dances, and a demonstration on Parliament Hill (June 30). The 150 registered delegates, of whom only about twenty were women, represented almost every city in Canada, and many points of view. Growing divisions in the gay movement were evident, and at least five distinctive subgroupings were present: religious, service-oriented, rights-oriented, anarchist, and leftist. The groups were able to compromise, however, to reach a consensus on a ten-point programme for the NGRC/CNDH, which included the controversial recommendation to abolish all age-of-consent laws. The conference also voted to support other resolutions: to urge all gay organizations to take up the defence of John Damien; to send a message of support to Dr. Henry Morgentaler, commending his contributions to the struggle for women's rights, and calling for his release from prison; to support the struggle of gays in Quebec; and to stage simultaneous demonstrations across Canada in the autumn of 1975 to protest anti-homosexual provisions in the federal Immigration Act. The issue of lesbian participation arose in a resolution, later adopted, which gave the Women's Caucus delegate status and established a person to act as a liaison to encourage lesbian participation in the NGRC/ CNDH. As well, this was the first Canadian national conference in which delegates from Quebec played a significant role; six groups from Montreal sent delegates, as did one group from Quebec City, The NGRC/CNDH originally consisted of twenty-seven member groups and was to be coordinated by GO. Ron Dayman was named the first secretary of the group's national coordinating office. The NGRC/CNDH was renamed the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Rights Coalition/Coalition canadienne pour les droits des lesbiennes et gais (CLGRC/CCDLG) in 1978 and was active until June 1980.
All Events
Summer Toronto An Opportunities for […]August 31-September 2 Winnipeg The […]All Places
University of OttawaOttawaAll People
Ron DaymanHenry MorgentalerJohn DamienAll Organizations
Gays of Ottawa Gays d'Ottawa GO, Gays of Ottawa Gais de L'Outaouais GONational Gay Rights Coalition Coalition nationale pour les droits des homosexuels NGRC CNDH, Canadian Lesbian and Gay Rights Coalition / Coalition canadienne pour les droits des lesbiennes et des gais (CLGRC / CCDLG)All Monograph
Immigration ActAll Citations
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