January 17 Windsor, Ont. Gail […]

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When

1979-01-17

Description

January 17 Windsor, Ont. Gail (Gayle) Bezaire, a lesbian mother, was granted custody of her two children. This was allowed only under strict guidelines that would prevent "any open and avowed lesbian or homosexual relationships in the home," and despite the stated disapproval of her lesbianism by Judge Joseph McMahon of the Essex County Court. On April 23, 1979, Judge McMahon reversed his decision after Bezaire moved to Toronto to live with her female lover. On May 1, 1979, twenty-five lesbians and gay men picketed the Family Court in Toronto to protest the reversed decision. In May 1979, Bezaire moved to Calgary where she established the Gay Parents' Defence Fund (GPDF). A separate Gayle Bezaire Defence Committee was also established to help raise funds to appeal her case. (See also March 15, 1980, and September 18, 1980.)

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Calgary Toronto Essex County Court Windsor

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Joseph McMahon Gail Bezaire

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Gayle Bezaire Defence Committee Gay Parents' Defence Fund

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"Women Gets Custody but Decision Anti-gay," Body Politic, no. 51 (1979), p. 11.Gary Rennie, "Despite Lesbian Past, Mother Gets Children: Lengthy Divorce Case Concludes," Windsor Star, 17 January 1979, pp. 1–2 "New Court Order Takes Kids Away," Body Politic, no. 53 (1979), p. 10 "Lesbian Wins Custody," Forum (CLGRC, Montréal), 4, no. 1 (Winter 1979): (5–6)"Lesbian Mother Loses Custody of Two Children: Judge Reverses Earlier Decision," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 25 April 1979, p. 11 "Lesbian Mother Is Awarded Custody of Her Two Children," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 18 January 1979, p. T2 "Here's Your Chance to Help" (advertisement), Body Politic, no. 57 (1979), p. 29 Debbie Bodinger, "Lesbian Mother Continues Fight for Her Children," LOOT Newsletter, April 1979, p. (1)"Bezaire v. Bezaire," Family Law Review 2, no. 1 (1979): 51–58

Graph Legend

Essex County Court

Government_building

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