May 26 Toronto The Islander, a […]
When
1977-05-26
Description
May 26 Toronto The Islander, a weekly newspaper for Blacks, published an article entitled "June Wedding for Faggots." The article concerned the marriage of two Black gays in a Toronto church. Bromley Armstrong, who was a member of the OHRC, published The Islander. Gay groups including GATE (Toronto), CHAT, and GO protested to Armstrong, calling for him to either apologize for the slur or resign from the commission. On June 2, 1977, the newspaper's editorial director, Errol Townshend, published an editorial that attacked gays and supporters of gay rights. Then, on June 9, the newspaper published a letter from Brian Mossop, the president of GATE (Toronto), demanding that Townshend apologize to the paper's gay readers. Mossop was in turn attacked in print with Townshend's reply: "We're so sorry we hurt your feelings, darling. But we're not going to kiss and make up tonight. We're not in the mood (smile). You know what we mean. Now, drop dead. But get one thing straight before you do: Blacks and your crowd are not in the same boat." Meanwhile, Armstrong said that while he would not allow derogatory epithets in the paper, "As a newspaper publisher I did not, and I will not, limit free expression of opinion in the pages of The Islander..." (See also Summer 1978.)
All Events
Summer Toronto Ontario Human Rights […]All Places
TorontoAll People
Brian MossopErrol TownshendBromley ArmstrongAll Organizations
Gays of Ottawa Gays d'Ottawa GO, Gays of Ottawa Gais de L'Outaouais GOCommunity Homophile Association of Toronto CHATGay Alliance toward Equality GATEOntario Human Rights CommissionAll Periodicals
The IslanderAll Articles
June Wedding for FaggotsAll Citations
"What The Sun Said," Islander (Toronto), 9 June 1977, p. 3."Publisher's Statement on Homosexual Controversy," Islander (Toronto), 16 June 1977, p. 4Ken Popert, "Anti-gay Slurs OK by Rights Commissioner: Can't Interfere with Freedom of the Press," Body Politic, no. 35 (1977), pp. 1, 7"Politicians Jump into Homosexual Dispute," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 3 June 1977, p. 4Our Staff Correspondents, "Gays Find Love in Liberal, NDP Camps but Not among Blacks," Islander (Toronto), 9 June 1977, pp. 1, 3"The Odd Couple" (editorial), Toronto Sun, 6 June 1977, p. 10Brian Mossop, "Homosexuals Seek Apology" (letter), Islander (Toronto), 9 June 1977, p. 5George Hislop, "Toronto Update: Directions to Note," Directions: A Canadian Publication for Gay Men, 1, no. 4 (1977): 39–40George [Hislop], "From the President's Pen," (column), CHAT Newsletter (Toronto), July 1977, p. (1)"Gay Groups Call for Resignation" (Inside Metro), Globe and Mail, metro ed., 31 May 1977, p. 5Robert Chamberlain, "Rights Code Disgraced" (editorial), Windsor Star, final ed., 6 June 1977, p. 8"Bromley Armstrong," Gay Rising, July 1977, p. (4)"Bromley Apologises for Slurs Yet Fails to Satisfy 'Gays,'" Contrast (Toronto), 16 June 1977, p. 3Isabella Bardoel, "Embattled Human Rights Group Member Promises Answer to Homosexuals' Complaint," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 11 June 1977, p. 5
