February 15–18 Halifax Eight men […]

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When

1978-02-15 – 1978-02-18

Description

February 15–18 Halifax Eight men were arrested and charged with committing gross indecency after being entrapped in a Woolco washroom at Scotia Square. The men appeared in court on February 28, 1978. Afterwards, their names and addresses were published in local media such as the Halifax Chronicle-Herald, local radio news broadcasts, on the Canadian Press wire service, and were featured on the CTV and CBC-TV national news. Wendell MacKay, deputy justice minister of Prince Edward Island, was one of the accused. After being charged, MacKay suffered self-inflicted gunshot wounds and spent time in hospital; he was later acquitted. GAE protested the charges, and the resulting media circus.

All Places

Scotia Square Halifax

All People

Wendell MacKay

All Organizations

PEI Ministry of Justice Gay Alliance for Equality, Gay Alliance for Equality Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Canadian Television Network Woolco

All Periodicals

The Canadian Press Halifax Chronicle-Herald

All Citations

"Top PEI Official Nabbed in Tea Trade," Body Politic, no. 41 (1978), p. 7."PEI Ex-official Is Acquitted on Sex Charge," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 27 June 1978, p. 2 "PEI Deputy Minister Faces a Sex Charge," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 1 March 1978, p. 8 "PEI Deputy Justice Minister Charged with Indecent Act," Ottawa Journal, 1 March 1978, p. 10 Robin Metcalfe, "Media: Gross Indecency," Dalhousie Gazette (Dalhousie Univ., Halifax), 2 March 1978, p. 5 "Media Slanders [sic] Homosexuals: Sensationalism," St. Mary's Journal (St. Mary's Univ., Halifax), 15 March 1978, p. 3 "Halifax Gays Protest Media Coverage," Body Politic, no. 42 (1978), p. 6 "Eight Charged with Indecency," Barometer (Halifax), 2 March 1978 "Deputy Minister Wounded by Gun," Halifax Chronicle-Herald, 28 February 1978, p. 5 "Charges Laid against Eight Persons," Halifax Chronicle-Herald, 1 March 1978, p. 5

Graph Legend

Scotia Square

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