Timeline of Notable Events in Pride History
June 1969
Stonewall Riots
New York City, USA
The Stonewall Riots marked a significant turning point in the fight for the rights of the Gender, Sexual, and Relationship Diverse (GSRD) community. The events that unfolded during and after the riots had a profound impact not only in the United States but also across the globe, including in Canada.
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1969
Decriminalization of Homosexuality in Canada
Canada
Following the decriminalization of homosexuality in parts of the UK, Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau amended the criminal code to decriminalize homosexuality in Canada on June 27, 1969 with the passing of Bill C-150, the Criminal Law Amendment Act. Unfortunately, this did very little to actually protect GSRD Canadians. It would be decades before this community gained any meaningful protections under Canadian law.
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August 1971
We Demand Rally
Ottawa, Ontario
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In the winter of 1971, a small but determined group of activists in Ottawa stepped into
the cold air outside Parliament Hill to demand a new vision for Canada. Known as the We Demand Rally, it was the country’s first large-scale demonstration for gay rights.
August 1973
Canada’s 1973 Pride Week
Various Canadian cities: Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal Saskatoon & Winnipeg
In August 1973, cities across Canada hosted events promoting GSRD pride and advocating for the rights of the GSRD community. The 1973 Pride Week marked a shift in the gay liberation movement and the emergence of the concept of Gay Pride in Canada.
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February 1981
Toronto Bathhouse Raids
Toronto, Ontario
On February 5, 1981, Toronto police carried out a series of violent raids on four bathhouses, arresting nearly 300 men in one of the largest mass arrests in Canadian history. The event ignited widespread protests and became a pivotal moment in the fight for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights in Canada.
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May 1981
Pisces Bathhouse Raid
Edmonton, Alberta
On May 30th, 1981, at around 1:30 AM, forty members of the Edmonton Police service, six RCMP officers, and two crown attorneys stormed the Pisces Health Spa, a bathhouse used by gay men. They arrested 56 men and charged them, while six owners and employees were accused of running a common bawdy house.
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May 1981
Canada’s First Dyke March
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada's first dyke march was a groundbreaking moment for 2SLGBTQIA+ history. Set in Vancouver, this march boldly championed visibility, solidarity, and resistance for lesbian communities at a time of fierce activism.
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1990
Adoption of Term 2-Spirit
Winnipeg, Manitoba
In 1990, at the Third North American Gathering of Native Gays and Lesbians in Sandy Saulteaux Spiritual Centre north of Winnipeg the term two-spirit was adopted. This term originated from the need to develop a unique identity that honours the diverse roles and sexualities within Indigenous communities.
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1999
Blockorama
Toronto, Ontario
Launched in 1999 as part of Pride Toronto, Blockorama was created to celebrate and uplift the African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The space highlights Black joy, culture, and activism, providing visibility and representation within the broader Pride movement.
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September 2000
Pussy Palace Raid
Toronto, Ontario
On September 14, 2000, five plainclothes male officers raided the Pussy Palace, a bathhouse event organized by queer women in Toronto. What began as a space of celebration for 2LGBTQIA+ women, trans, and nonbinary people became the site of a deeply invasive and discriminatory police operation.
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June 2009
Canada’s First Trans March
Toronto, Ontario
On June 26, 2009 the first Trans Pride March held in Canada took place in Toronto. The march was planned and organized by trans rights activist and member of the trans community Karah Mathiason and her wife and fellow member of the trans community Diane Grant. The march was long overdue and a much-needed addition to annual pride events.