40th anniversary of homosexuality decriminalization in Canada!

On May 14th, 1969, Canada passed the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968-69 which, among other things, decriminalized homosexuality (and permitted abortion in some circumstances, which is another issue ). This was a big issue at the time. A poll showed 42% of Canadians thought consenting and private sex between adult men should NOT be considered a crime, while 41% DID.

It was basically symbolic, since gays were almost never prosecuted by this, but it was the first step in all that followed. Trudeau, Prime Minister at the time the bill passed, had said while he was justice minister: 'There's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation'.

By the way, back then the "progressist" position was to accept gays and give them medical attention to help cure them How times change...

Fascinating CBC clips from the era

http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/rights_freedoms/clips/2671/
http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/rights_freedoms/clips/2673/

Si vous parlez français, Radio-Canada a des super clips aussi:
http://archives.radio-canada.ca/politique/droits_libertes/dossiers/557/

This particular clip above has anonymous gays talking about how they're glad now they won't have to fear going to go to the police. They also talk about feeling like they have this knife above their heads at all time... Surreal.

In any case, a hand of applause for Trudeau and the Liberal party :eusa_clap

 

Just wanted to add:

This case in 1967 of a gay man being sentenced for life for being "dangerous sexual offender", a judgement that was *upheld* by the Supreme Court, was probably the catalyst for the amendment:

The MP guy says in the interview:

Clip: http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/rights_freedoms/clips/12538/