“Homosexuality” is decriminalized in Canada. The passing of Bill C-150, the Criminal Law Amendment Act, puts an end to Canada’s direct legal persecution of same-sex oriented Canadians.
July 1971
Last Canadian imprisoned for “homosexuality” released. Everett George Klippert is released after being imprisoned indefinitely in 1965.
August 1971
Canada’s first gay rights march takes place in Ottawa. Approximately 100 people march to the Parliament buildings demanding fair policy for gay and lesbian Canadians.
1977
Québec becomes the first jurisdiction in Canada to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in its provincial Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
March 1981
More than a thousand people flock to St. Lawrence Market [Toronto] to show their outrage about the treatment of the gay community at the hands of the police and local government. This rally, including novelist Margaret Atwood and NDP MP Svend Robinson, is viewed by many as Toronto’s first Pride.
1995
Bill C-41 (Hate Crimes Bill) passes with explicit reference to sexual orientation.
June 1996
Sexual orientation written in to Canadian Human Rights Act.
2000
Same-sex common-law partnership recognized by federal government.
June 10, 2003
Ontario becomes first province to recognize same-sex marriage.
July 2005
Canada becomes the fourth country to allow same-sex marriage. Bill C-38 receives Royal Assent and same-sex marriage is legalized nationwide.
December 2006
A Conservative government motion to re-examine the issue of same-sex marriage is defeated in the House of Commons by a vote of 175 to 123.
Source: Metro News
Related:
- 1981 Was A Watershed Year For The Gay Liberation Movement In Canada
- A Brief History of Gay: Canada's First Gay Tabloid, 1964-1966
