Counter-protest flyer following arrests at Truxx in October 1977
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Activities
Look
Look at the typeface on this poster. Which sections are in the biggest font size? Write out the call to action in your own words.
Think
How did the “Olympic Cleanup” lead to the first Pride march in Montréal?
Details
Date October 1977
Materials - Paper
Transcript
Hier Soir
145 Arrestations
Au “Truxx”
Sous pretexte d’etre dans une
Maison de debauche
Ce SOIR
Ce pourrait etre
Ici-meme
Il nous faut –faire valoir
–Nos droits–
A minuit, Ce soir,
Manifestation
Au coin des
Rues Stanley et Ste-Catherine
Historical Context
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- This poster was published a day after 146 arrests were made at the Montréal gay bars Truxx and Le Mystique, on October 22, 1977.
- Posters like this helped rally some 2,000 people, who participated in Montréal demonstrations that resulted in conflict between protesters and the police.
- Public support for gay rights solidified after the raids, and was instrumental in leading to the first Montréal Pride march on June 16, 1979.
This poster was published a day after 146 arrests were made at the Montréal gay bars Truxx and Le Mystique, on October 22, 1977.
2SLGBTQIA+ Canadians faced increased police surveillance following the partial decriminalization of homosexuality in 1969. Homophobia and worries about threats posed by so-called “radical” groups led to the increased policing of queer spaces.
In a series of targeted raids and arrests before and after the 1976 Montréal Summer Olympics, police raided numerous bars and bathhouses —perhaps most notably, the October 1977 raids on Truxx and Le Mystique.
The poster was produced by Montréal’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community for a rally protesting the arrests, which was ultimately attended by more 2,000 people. Protests like the one following the Truxx raid helped spur the growth of some of Quebec’s first 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations and Pride festivals. Montréal’s first Gay and Lesbian Pride Week took place in 1979.
This poster was published a day after 146 arrests were made at the Montréal gay bars Truxx and Le Mystique, on October 22, 1977.
Following the partial decriminalization of homosexuality in 1969 (limited to consensual sex between two adults in private), police forces across Canada increased their surveillance and prosecution of 2SLGBTQIA+ spaces. Targets included bathhouses and bars, which were key places for 2SLGBTQIA+ people (particularly gay people) to safely explore gender and sexuality.
A combination of homophobic beliefs, along with broader fears about radicalism in the years following the 1970 October Crisis (learn more: historymuseum.ca/teachers-zone/lost-liberties), led to concerted efforts to police these spaces in the years before and shortly after the 1976 Montréal Summer Olympics.
In what became known as the “Olympic Cleanup,” police raided numerous bars and bathhouses in Ottawa and Montréal. Raids on the Montréal bars Truxx and Le Mystique in October 1977 resulted in the greatest number of mass arrests since the October Crisis.
The response from community members was swift. This leaflet rallied supporters to a public protest of the raids. Thousands attended a rally in front of Truxx that ended in occasionally violent clashes with police. These raids, and the counter-protests they inspired, helped spur the growth of some of Quebec’s first 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations and Pride festivals. Montréal’s first Gay and Lesbian Pride Week took place in 1979.
- This poster was published a day after 146 arrests were made at the Montréal gay bars Truxx and Le Mystique, on October 22, 1977.
- Posters like this helped rally some 2,000 people, who participated in Montréal demonstrations that resulted in conflict between protesters and the police.
- Public support for gay rights solidified after the raids, and was instrumental in leading to the first Montréal Pride march on June 16, 1979.
This poster was published a day after 146 arrests were made at the Montréal gay bars Truxx and Le Mystique, on October 22, 1977.
2SLGBTQIA+ Canadians faced increased police surveillance following the partial decriminalization of homosexuality in 1969. Homophobia and worries about threats posed by so-called “radical” groups led to the increased policing of queer spaces.
In a series of targeted raids and arrests before and after the 1976 Montréal Summer Olympics, police raided numerous bars and bathhouses —perhaps most notably, the October 1977 raids on Truxx and Le Mystique.
The poster was produced by Montréal’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community for a rally protesting the arrests, which was ultimately attended by more 2,000 people. Protests like the one following the Truxx raid helped spur the growth of some of Quebec’s first 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations and Pride festivals. Montréal’s first Gay and Lesbian Pride Week took place in 1979.
This poster was published a day after 146 arrests were made at the Montréal gay bars Truxx and Le Mystique, on October 22, 1977.
Following the partial decriminalization of homosexuality in 1969 (limited to consensual sex between two adults in private), police forces across Canada increased their surveillance and prosecution of 2SLGBTQIA+ spaces. Targets included bathhouses and bars, which were key places for 2SLGBTQIA+ people (particularly gay people) to safely explore gender and sexuality.
A combination of homophobic beliefs, along with broader fears about radicalism in the years following the 1970 October Crisis (learn more: historymuseum.ca/teachers-zone/lost-liberties), led to concerted efforts to police these spaces in the years before and shortly after the 1976 Montréal Summer Olympics.
In what became known as the “Olympic Cleanup,” police raided numerous bars and bathhouses in Ottawa and Montréal. Raids on the Montréal bars Truxx and Le Mystique in October 1977 resulted in the greatest number of mass arrests since the October Crisis.
The response from community members was swift. This leaflet rallied supporters to a public protest of the raids. Thousands attended a rally in front of Truxx that ended in occasionally violent clashes with police. These raids, and the counter-protests they inspired, helped spur the growth of some of Quebec’s first 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations and Pride festivals. Montréal’s first Gay and Lesbian Pride Week took place in 1979.
Summary
- This poster was published a day after 146 arrests were made at the Montréal gay bars Truxx and Le Mystique, on October 22, 1977.
- Posters like this helped rally some 2,000 people, who participated in Montréal demonstrations that resulted in conflict between protesters and the police.
- Public support for gay rights solidified after the raids, and was instrumental in leading to the first Montréal Pride march on June 16, 1979.
Essential
This poster was published a day after 146 arrests were made at the Montréal gay bars Truxx and Le Mystique, on October 22, 1977.
2SLGBTQIA+ Canadians faced increased police surveillance following the partial decriminalization of homosexuality in 1969. Homophobia and worries about threats posed by so-called “radical” groups led to the increased policing of queer spaces.
In a series of targeted raids and arrests before and after the 1976 Montréal Summer Olympics, police raided numerous bars and bathhouses —perhaps most notably, the October 1977 raids on Truxx and Le Mystique.
The poster was produced by Montréal’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community for a rally protesting the arrests, which was ultimately attended by more 2,000 people. Protests like the one following the Truxx raid helped spur the growth of some of Quebec’s first 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations and Pride festivals. Montréal’s first Gay and Lesbian Pride Week took place in 1979.
In-Depth
This poster was published a day after 146 arrests were made at the Montréal gay bars Truxx and Le Mystique, on October 22, 1977.
Following the partial decriminalization of homosexuality in 1969 (limited to consensual sex between two adults in private), police forces across Canada increased their surveillance and prosecution of 2SLGBTQIA+ spaces. Targets included bathhouses and bars, which were key places for 2SLGBTQIA+ people (particularly gay people) to safely explore gender and sexuality.
A combination of homophobic beliefs, along with broader fears about radicalism in the years following the 1970 October Crisis (learn more: historymuseum.ca/teachers-zone/lost-liberties), led to concerted efforts to police these spaces in the years before and shortly after the 1976 Montréal Summer Olympics.
In what became known as the “Olympic Cleanup,” police raided numerous bars and bathhouses in Ottawa and Montréal. Raids on the Montréal bars Truxx and Le Mystique in October 1977 resulted in the greatest number of mass arrests since the October Crisis.
The response from community members was swift. This leaflet rallied supporters to a public protest of the raids. Thousands attended a rally in front of Truxx that ended in occasionally violent clashes with police. These raids, and the counter-protests they inspired, helped spur the growth of some of Quebec’s first 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations and Pride festivals. Montréal’s first Gay and Lesbian Pride Week took place in 1979.