October 11 Toronto Police raided the […]
When
1979-10-11
Description
October 11 Toronto Police raided the Hot Tub Club, 9 Isabella Street, four apartments, and a cottage in Northumberland County near Peterborough and laid multiple charges, from keeping a common bawdy house to making obscene films. The raids were the culmination of a five-month investigation lead by Inspector James Majury of 55 Division and involved more than fifty police officers. At the Hot Tub Club, nine men were charged as keepers and fourteen as found-ins. More than a hundred people gathered outside the club on Isabella Street to jeer at the police and to chant their support for the men being arrested inside. The crowd was joined by Toronto aldermen Dan Heap and Allan Sparrow, who had spoken out in recent months against police harassment of gays. The RTPC offered to defend the men charged on bawdy house offences. (See also January 17, 1980.)
All Places
PeterboroughHot Tub ClubTorontoAll People
Dan HeapAllan SparrowJames MajuryAll Organizations
December 9th Defence Fund, Right to Privacy Committee (RTPC)Toronto Police ServiceAll Citations
"Twelve Arrested after Raid: Cops Drub Hot Tub Club," Toronto Clarion, 17–30 October 1979, p. 5.Robert Trow and Bill Lewis, "Cops Raid Hot Tub Club, Private Homes on Eve of Opening of Ontario Legislature," Body Politic, no. 58 (1979), pp. 8–9"The Strategy: Split the Gay Community: Whips, Chains, Hustlers, Dope—and Kids," RTPC Newsbreak (Toronto), (November 1979), p. 3"'Stop, Stop, Stop': Dozen Charged in Raid on Club," Toronto Sun, 12 October 1979, p. 29"Serves 'Em Right!" Metro Community News 7 (7 March 1980): 19–20"Police Raid Gay Club Amid Jeering Crowd," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 12 October 1979, p. 2"Militancy Made the Difference: The Hot Tub Club Raid," RTPC Newsbreak (Toronto), (November 1979), p. 2Peter Maloney, "Hot Tub Raided," Metro Community News 7 (2 November 1979): 1, 11"Dozen Face Charges in 5 Sex Raids," Toronto Star, four star ed., 12 October 1979, p. A3"Cottage Country Capers," Body Politic, no. 58 (1979), p. 9"Boy, 15, Is Involved in Sex Case: Police," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 13 October 1979, p. 5"Bawdy Houses and Pickled Herring" (editorial), Body Politic, no. 58 (1979), p. 7
