Autumn Vancouver The El Toro […]

Graph

When

1977-09 – 1977-11

Description

Autumn Vancouver The El Toro bathhouse was ordered by city staff to remove doors from all cubicles as a requirement of having its licence renewed. The action came at the request of Medical Officer of Health Gerald Bonham, who was concerned about the rate of syphilis among gay men in British Columbia and thought that the move would allow for less opportunity for promiscuous sexual contact involving total strangers. Vancouver City Council also instructed city staff to draft a by-law that would extend the no-doors rule to all bathhouses in Vancouver. This was seen by some gays as part of an organized crackdown campaign on gays in Vancouver.

All Places

British Columbia El Toro Vancouver

All People

Gerald Bonham

All Organizations

Vancouver City Council

All Citations

"Stop Police Attacks," Gay Tide, no. 18 (1978), p. 1.Al Dunning, "Open-door Policy for Vancouver Baths," Body Politic, no. 39 (1977–78), p. 5

Graph Legend

El Toro

Bathhouse

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