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1973, Early * WUGLM: Its Own Office and Phone Extension
“New Office: Gay Lib has aquired [sic] its own offic [sic] on campus located in the
Campus Centre, room 217 , telephone 885 1211 and ask for the Gay Lib extension. It is hoped that
in the future there will be regular office hours in the evenings when people can telephone for
information, or just drop by to rap.
The office will contain all the Gay Lib materials including the library of books and magazines. It is
planned to expand the present collection of books and to obtain copies of magazines from as many other
gay organizations as possible. Until the new facilities are set up or if there is no response at the
office call ###-#### for further information.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, Issue 1, 1973, February, p.3.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM]
1973, February * WUGLM: Gemini II Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 1
The header on the cover of this issue read: “GEMINI II Waterloo Universities Gay Liberation
Movement : volume 1, issue 1.”
Near the bottom of the page was the date “February 1973”
The entire issue was printed on yellow paper.
This issue had 4 pages excluding the front page; its format size was 27.9 cm x 21.6 cm (11.0" x 8.5").
The cover also featured poems by Margaret Murray and Pat Young.
The Editorial on p.3 of the issue began with the following explanatory remarks:
“Persons who were familiar with GLM last year will recognize the title of this publication as being
similar to the special publication ‘GEMINI’. Gemini II, however, will be different in that it
will combine the contents of the previous GLM Newsletter with the more general type of articles of
Gemini.”
{GRRHP Staff Note: We do not have a physical copy of any document claiming to be a “Newsletter” of
WUGLM; there is, however, a 1972, February issue of something that may be a WUGLM newsletter in the
Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives in Toronto. We will eventually consult that.}
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, Issue 1, 1973, February.]
The issue included an article entitled “Gay Love” by
Richard Nash reprinted from Gay Sunshine.
The issue also contained a report on education, mentioning: (1) that the two
Kameny tapes had been edited into one tape, which was available
for classes, (2) that 3 sensitivity groups had been formed in
Fall 1972 with the help of Counseling Services, and (3) that
WUGLM had received many requests for panels and speakers for
classes or groups.
The issue also listed some upcoming events in Kitchener, London and Toronto; it also included a poem
signed FJB.
Perhaps most important of all, the newsletter
noted that WUGLM had just been given its own office in the Campus
Center (Room 217C), with a campus extension number.
The issue also mentioned some changes to WUGLM's membership policy.
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, Issue 1, 1973, February.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | publications | Gemini II]
1973, February 2 (Friday) * WUGLM: Off-Campus Dance
“COMING EVENTS:
February 2 ************************ GLM Dance (8:30 - 1:00) at Jason's of
Kitchener, 417 King St. West, half a block east of Victoria. Music by ‘J.W.’ Admission
50¢ Licenced [sic].”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, Issue 1, 1973, February, p.2; the final page of this issue was a flyer advertising the event.]
WUGLM sponsored a licensed dance at “Jason's”; (a local
dance spot, I believe), with music by “J.W.” (a popular
disc jockey in the gay community).
[source: Jim Parrott]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | dances]
1973, February 17 (Saturday) * University of Western Ontario Homophile Association: Dance
““COMING EVENTS: ...
February 17 ************************ University of Western Ontario Homophile Association dance.
Grad Student Lounge, Somerville House, London. Admission $1.00 without membership card.
Licenced [sic].”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, Issue 1, 1973, February, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | UW0 groups | UWOHA | dances]
1973, February 23 (Friday) * WUGLM: Dance Cancelled
“DANCES
No doubt many of you are aware the anticipated dance scheduled for Feb. 23rd did not happen. The main
reason was again the lack of facilities. Although Jason's provided good facilities, all prime nights
had been taken by a larger group so a different location had to be found, unfortunately, not in time to
have the planned dance.
At present we are trying to secure a place for March 10. Application has been made to the co-op residences
regarding the use of Hammar House (just like in the summer) but a decision was not available at the time of
printing.
Word will go out when we know but if you do not hear anything via the local grapevine, then call the office
(885-1211 ext ####) or ###-#### and get the word for sure.
If Hammar House becomes available to us, we hope to establish a regular series of dances every second
Saturday. So keep your party shoes handy, you may still get a chance to use them.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, Issue 2, 1973, March, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | dances]
1973, March * WUGLM: Gemini II Newsletter, 1st Vol., 2nd Issue
The header on the cover of this issue read: “GEMINI II. Waterloo Universities' Gay Liberation
Movement : volume 1, issue 2”
Near the bottom of the cover was the note: “MARCH '73”
This issue had 5 pages including the front page; its format size was 27.9 cm x 21.6 cm (11.0" x 8.5").
The cover also featured a drawing by Dave Poole and poems by Dennis Findlay and
Margaret Murray.
This issue noted problems in booking dances on good nights at “Jason's,” and
suggested that dances might be held in “Hammer House” (Hammerskjold Cooperative Residence) as was
done the previous summer.
It gave office hours for the new office (Campus Center Rm.217C) as 9:30
am to 10:30 pm, Monday to Friday. The feature piece was a reprint
of a coming-out letter entitled “DEAR DAD AND MOTHER” from a WUGLM member, “Patrick,”
to his parents. Finally, the newsletter announced a “Gay Lib
panel on homosexuality” to occur on CKCO TV on March 22.
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, Issue 2, 1973, March.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | publications | Gemini II]
1973, March 3 (Saturday) * UWOHA: Dance
“WHAT'S UP ... UWOHA, London. ... March 3, 17, 31: Saturday Dance. 8:00 p.m. Admission
$1.00 with membership card. Grad Student Lounge, Somerville House. Licenced.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 2, 1973, March, p.5.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | UWOHA | dances]
1973, March 10 (Saturday) * WUGLM: Dance Cancelled
“SATURDAY Gay Lib Dance. CANCELLED”
[source: Chevron,
Vol.13, No.36, 1973, March 9 (Friday), “twoc,”
p.7.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | dances]
1973, March 17 (Saturday) * WUGLM: Ontario Gay Conference (Toronto)
On p. 2 of Gemini II,
Volume 1, Issue 3, 1973, April, there was a report entitled Ontario Gay Conference by
Jim Parrott on a conference of various Ontario gay liberation and homophile groups held at
Hart House at the University of Toronto and sponsored by the University of Toronto
Homophile Association.
The report mentions activities of the various groups, including “speaking engagements, social functions,
politics, sensitivity groups, consciousness raising, and informational services.”
It also referred to attempts at various universities and colleges to set up gay studies courses.
It concluded with the following.
“After the conference there was a dance in Hart House. The next conference will be in Ottawa on the
Victoria Day weekend to discuss plans for Gay Pride Week.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, Issue 3, 1973, April, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | Conferences]
1973, March 17 (Saturday) * UWOHA: Dance
“WHAT'S UP ... UWOHA, London. ... March 3, 17, 31: Saturday Dance. 8:00 p.m. Admission
$1.00 with membership card. Grad Student Lounge, Somerville House. Licenced.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 2, 1973, March, p.5.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | UWOHA | dances]
1973, March 22 (Thursday) * CKCO TV Open-Line Talk Show
“March 22: Gay Lib panel on homosexuality. 9:00-10:00 p.m. Tune in; tell others to watch the
telly. Ch. 12”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, Issue 2, 1973, March, p.5.]
On p.6 of Gemini II,
Volume 1, Issue 3, 1973, April, there was a report on the CKCO TV open-line talk show
on March 22 with three WUGLM members, Margaret Murray, Patrick and Jim Parrott, as well as
Pat Murphy (a lesbian from Toronto).
The report indicated that the “programme consisted of about one and a half hours of answering questions,
and turned into a fairly extensive look at the gay world in general and at times looking into the personal
lives of the members of the panel.”
The article also noted that some of the phoned-in questions were inane or hostile.
It concluded with the following.
“Many of the callers were surprisingly young, some unexpectedly aware of what was happening in the gay world
and some even called up to express their solidarity with the aims of the Movement and were able to see the
movement in the context of a greater liberation. The show was a very gratifying experience.”
[Jim Parrott recalls that it was a hair-raising, yet exhilarating, evening.]
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, Issue 3, 1973, April, p.6.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | CKCO]
1973, March 26 (Monday) * WUGLM: Meeting
“MONDAY ... Gay lib movement presents speaker on primal therapy and
homosexuality. CC113 8pm. For more information contact 217C CC or ext. #### [WUGLM's first
telephone line of its own].”
[source: Chevron,
Vol.13, No.38, 1973, March 23 (Friday), “twoc,”
p.8.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | meetings]
1973, March 31 (Saturday) * UWOHA: Dance
“WHAT'S UP ... UWOHA, London. ... March 3, 17, 31: Saturday Dance. 8:00 p.m. Admission
$1.00 with membership card. Grad Student Lounge, Somerville House. Licenced.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 2, 1973, March, p.5.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | UWOHA | dances]
1973, April * WUGLM: Gemini II Newsletter, 1st Vol., 3rd Issue
The header on the cover of this issue read: “GEMINI II. Waterloo Universities' Gay Liberation
Movement : volume 1, issue 3”
Near the bottom of the cover was the note: “APRIL '73”
This issue had 6 pages including the front page; its format size was 27.9 cm x 21.6 cm (11.0" x 8.5").
The cover also featured a drawing by Dave Poole and a poem by Pat Young.
The issue had a report on a gay conference at the University of Toronto,
March 17, an article on police harassment, and reports from Windsor and Hamilton.
It also included a report that the LCBO had not granted WUGLM's licence for the Hammer House dance, in
spite of the fact that they had done so twice previously.
It included a book review, and a brief article on V.D.
Finally, it contained a report on the CKCO TV open-line talk show
on March 22 with Margaret Murray, Patrick, Pat Murphy (a lesbian
from Toronto) and Jim Parrott; this was followed by a stream-of-consciousness meditation on
personal liberation in the Age of Aquarius, and a poem by Margaret Murray.
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, Issue 3, 1973, April.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | publications | Gemini II]
1973, Spring Term * WUGLM: Operation Socrates: Background
Jim Parrott says: Some time in late Winter or early Spring, I was approached by
some WUGLM members who were interested in applying for an
Opportunities For Youth (OFY) Grant. They hoped to
produce an educational manual suitable for agencies and
individuals wishing gay-positive information on the LesBiGay
lifestyle. They asked me if I would write a letter of endorsement
for their proposed project, which they called Operation Socrates.
I can't remember whether they asked for my endorsement because I
was on the executive of WUGLM (I probably was), or because I was
a member of a fairly respectable profession, librarianship (I
definitely was). I thought they were dreaming if they believed
that the government was actually going to give them money to
create what many people might consider a subversive document, but
I was far too well-bred to say that. So I wrote the letter of
endorsement. Not long afterwards, I was astonished to learn that
they had been funded. Thus began the saga of Operation Socrates.
[source: Jim Parrott.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | publications | Operation Socrates]
1973, May-June * WUGLM: Gemini II Newsletter, 1st Vol., 4th Issue
The header on the cover of this issue read: “GEMINI II. Waterloo Universities' Gay Liberation
Movement: volume 1, issue 4” Near the bottom of the cover was the note: “May - June '73”
This issue had 6 pages including the front page; its format size was 27.9 cm x 21.6 cm (11.0" x 8.5").
The cover also featured a drawing by Bob Williams and a poem by Pat Young.
The issue began with an editorial exhorting readers to help out more with the publication and also the
running of WUGLM.
There was also an announcement that the Operation Socrates Handbook would soon be available.
The “WHAT'S UP” section listed 3 upcoming events.
The issue included a reprint of a negative article in the Toronto Star on bisexuality, and a
send-up of it (by the editor of Gemini II), reports
of refusals by the Toronto Star and the K-W Record to carry
announcements using the word “gay,” a book review, a
report on the Ottawa conference (May 19-20), and a reprint
article on Sappho.
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 4, 1973, May-June.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | publications | Gemini II]
1973, May 12 (Saturday) * WUGLM: Operation Socrates: KW Record Controversy
The Kitchener-Waterloo Record announced that seven people were
funded by Opportunities For Youth to do a project on
homosexuality (Operation Socrates). The K-W Record described the
handbook that was to be produced as a “sex manual.”
This announcement caused quite a controversy in the pages of the
K-W Record in the ensuing weeks.
[source: Operation Socrates Handbook, c1973, title page;
Gemini II,
Volume 2, Issue 1, 1974, January, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | publications | Operation Socrates | KW Record]
1973, May 18 (Friday) * Book Barn (Waterloo): Body Politic Ad
On p.3 of Chevron,
Vol.14, No.2, 1973, May 18 (Friday), was an advertisement that read:
“THE BODY POLITIC A Gay Liberation Journal available only at the Book Barn
12 King St. N., Waterloo ###-####”
[source: Chevron,
Vol.14, No.2, 1973, May 18 (Friday), p.3.]
[categories: Waterloo Bookstores | advertiesments | ]
1973, May 18 (Friday) * Chevron: Letter: Operation Socrates: Against
On p.11 of Chevron,
Vol.14, No.2, 1973, May 18 (Friday), in the “feedback” section was a letter signed
Despondent taxpayer and entitled “You bastards, etc.”, which was about
Operation Socrates.
The letter read as follows.
“So you will be getting a grant to study homosexuality—nothing better in the world to
do??!!! And I, a widow working hard all my life have to pay income tax on my hard-earned pension to support
this so-called project. You idiots! You bastards! God help you!!!”
The Editor followed this with “[This letter was received by the Federation from Delta, B.C.,
and refers to a government-funded project of the Gay Lib group on this
campus—lettitor.]”
[source: Chevron,
Vol.14, No.2, 1973, May 18 (Friday), “feedback,”
p.11.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | Chevron | WUGLM | Operation Socrates]
1973 * WUGLM: Booklet Published: I am a Humansexual
WUGLM published a small green covered booklet entitled I am
a Humansexual.
[Source: Gemini II,
Volume 2, Issue 1, 1974, January, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | publications | I am a Humansexual]
1973, May 19-20 * WUGLM: Ontario Provincial Gay Liberation Conference in Ottawa
WUGLM members attended the Ontario Provincial Gay Liberation
Conference held at Pestalozzi College in Ottawa. The report (in
Gemini II,
v.1, no.4, p.6) notes the contrast between the groups
that were politically oriented and those that were not. Much of
the discussions appears to have centered around plans to lobby
prior to the upcoming election and to approach provincial Bill of
Rights Committees for changes to include sexual preference.
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, Issue 4, 1973, May-June, p.6.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | conferences | political activism]
1973, May 28 (Monday) - July 12 (Thursday) * An Attempt to Form a K-W Community Group: Background
At a meeting on May 28/73, comments were made to the effect that WUGLM was “in a state of transition between no structure and structure,” and was “not very well organized.” It was felt that it was important to analyze which tasks needed doing and delegating responsibilities for those tasks. A couple of the most active community members of GLLOW undertook to do this. It was also noted that there had been problems in involving student members of WUGLM in the running of the group.
This is probably the first time that the group began to wrestle with the problem of modifying the structure with which it began. In fact, this question of structure was to become a recurring theme throughout the history of WUGLM and GLLOW.
Business meetings occurred virtually weekly throughout the
Spring Term, and culminated in a special organizational meeting
on Thursday, July 12, 1973 (not a regular business meeting day).
[Taken from a notebook of minutes, etc. for 1973 in the possession of Jim Parrott.]
[categories: community groups | Kitchener-Waterloo]
1973, June 2 (Saturday) * WUGLM: Dance
“WHAT'S UP June 2, 8:30 pm. GLM dance, Campus Centre, University of Waterloo.
Admission $1.50; $1.00 with any Gay Lib membership card.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 4, 1973, May-June, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | dances]
1973, June 9 (Saturday) * UWOHA: Dance
“WHAT'S UP ...June 9, 8:30 pm. UWOHA dance, the University Community Centre, London.
Admission $1.00.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 4, 1973, May-June, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | UWOHA | dances]
1973, June 16 (Saturday) * WUGLM: Dance
“WHAT'S UP ... June 16, Tentative; another GLM dance at the Campus Centre. Contact the
office for further details.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 4, 1973, May-June, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | dances]
1973, July * WUGLM: Gemini II Newsletter, 1st Vol., 5th Issue
The header on the cover of this issue read: “GEMINI II. Waterloo Universities' Gay Liberation
Movement Volume 1 Issue 5”
Near the bottom of the cover was the note: “July '73”
This issue had 7 pages including the front page; its format size was 27.9 cm x 21.6 cm (11.0" x 8.5").
The cover also featured a drawing by Bob Williams and a poem by Margaret Murray.
The issue began with an editorial discussing the sensational articles and
letters in the K-W Record concerning the Operation Socrates
project which was funded by an Opportunities For Youth grant.
Apparently many heterosexual taxpayers thought that the aim of
Operation Socrates was to convert thousands of gullible
heterosexuals into homosexuals. (Try it, you'll like it!)
The “COMING SOON” section listed 12 upcoming events, most of them in Waterloo Region,
but a few in London and Hamilton.
The issue also contained a letter addressed to Operation Socrates by a seventeen-year old lesbian,
as well as announcements of political meetings in Toronto, a report of a lesbian conference held in
Toronto on 1973, June 30, and an unsigned poem.
The issue concluded with an article discussing the local media coverage of the funding of Operation
Socrates, and a dramatic dialogue on the involvement and lack of
involvement of lesbians in the gay liberation movement.
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 5, 1973, July.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | publications | Gemini II]
1973, July 12 (Thursday) * Community Group: Special Organizational Meeting of WUGLM
This meeting was essentially a brainstorming session. Among the suggestions were:
1973, July 13 (Friday) * Chevron: Article: Operation Socrates: For
On p.1 of Chevron,
Vol.14, No.6, 1973, July 13 (Friday), there was feature article by deanna kaufman
entitled “Operation Socrates: hysteria unfounded”.
This article was about Operation Socrates, a project which had been funded by an
Opportunities For Youth grant of $9000.00 to employ six full-time people and one part-time
person. The article was based in large part on interviews with two project members,
Denis Findlay and Margaret Murray.
It was pointed out that the project had become political ammunition for the Progressive Conservative
party against the minority Liberal government of Pierre Trudeau, and that, in fact,
Perrin Beatty, a local Progressive Conservative MP (for Wellington-Gray-Dufferin), had already
launched an investigation into the funding of the project.
In addition, the project was being hindered by “an article which appeared in the K-W Record
misrepresenting what Operation Socrates is trying to do.”
Murray and Findlay made it clear that the Operation Socrates handbook was not going to be “a
sex manual with illustrated positions”, and was not going to be distributed directly to high
school students, but rather would “be available for use in guidance offices of the high
schools and by various professional people in the area.”
It was pointed out that the project had “wide support from professionals in
Kitchener-Waterloo” and also that complaints about a $9000.00 grant were ludicrous given
the large number of homosexual taxpayers in Canada.
The article concluded with the statement: “And misunderstandings and incoherent criticisms
merely make the group, as Margaret says, aware that the project is very much needed.”
[source: Chevron,
Vol.14, No.6, 1973, July 13 (Friday), p.1.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | Chevron| Operation Socrates]
1973, July 14 (Saturday) * WUGLM: Dance
“COMING SOON July 14 : 8:30pm G.L.M. Dance, Campus Centre pub area, University of Waterloo.
Admission $1.50; $1.00 with any Gay Lib membership card. Licensed.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 5, 1973, July, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | dances]
1973, July 16 (Monday) * WUGLM: Meeting
“COMING SOON ... July 16 : 8:00pm Regular Waterloo G.L.M. meeting Campus Centre Rm 113. Guest
speaker George Hislop, CHAT Toronto, talking on ‘The LAW and homosexuals, your rights and what to do
when hasseled.’”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 5, 1973, July, p.2.]
“JULY 16 ... Gay Lib Movement meeting. Good discussion and interesting
people. Everyone welcome. 8pm CC113. For more info contact CC217C ext. #### [WUGLM's
telephone line].”
[source: Chevron,
Vol.14, No.6, 1973, July 13 (Friday), “twoc,”
p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | meetings]
1973, July 21 (Saturday) * WUGLM: Picnic
“COMING SOON ... July 21 : 1:30pm Waterloo G.L.M. PICNIC, at Elora Gorge
Conservation Area, south of Elora. Swimming, baseball and barbeque facilities available. Bring your own
food and eating utensils. Gate fee of $1.75 per car. Meet at the Pavilion for directions to site.
Everyone COME.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 5, 1973, July, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | picnic]
1973, July 21 (Saturday) * UWOHA: Dance
“COMING SOON ... July 21 : 8:30pm UWOHA Dance, second floor University Community Centre,
London. Admission $1.00.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 5, 1973, July, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | UWO groups | UWOHA | dances]
1973, July 23 (Monday) * WUGLM: Meeting
“COMING SOON ... July 23 : 8:00pm, regular G.L.M. meeting rm 113 Campus Centre, U of
Waterloo.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 5, 1973, July, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | picnic]
1973, July 24 (Tuesday) * Hamilton-McMaster Gay Liberation Movement: Meeting
“COMING SOON ... July 24 : 8:00pm, MacMaster [sic] Gay Liberation meeting, second floor lounge,
Senior Science Bldg, MacMaster [sic] University, Hamilton.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 5, 1973, July, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | McMaster groups | Hamilton-McMaster GLM | meeting]
1973, July 27 (Friday) * WUGLM: Dance
“COMING SOON ... July 27 PLEASE NOTE: the Waterloo Dances which have been held on Saturdays may
as of this date be held on Friday... so ..... PLEASE, contact us to check.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 5, 1973, July, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | dances]
1973, Summer * WUGLM: Operation Socrates Handbook Is Published
The Operation Socrates Handbook was completed and printed late in the summer of 1973,
and received considerable acclaim. Members of the project were
Dennis Findlay, Nancy Hills, Ana McNeil, Peter McDonald, Margaret
Murray, Ed Phillips, and Bob Williams.
[source: Operation Socrates Handbook, c1973, title page;
Gemini II,
Volume 2, Issue 1, 1974, January, p.2]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | publications | Operation Socrates]
1973, Summer * WUGLM: Dances On and Off Campus
There were also “many dances both on and off campus”
during the summer. Some of these were at the IOOF (Odd Fellows)
Hall on Lodge Street.
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 2, Issue 1, 1974, January, p.2 & 3.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | dances]
1973, August - September * WUGLM: Gemini II Newsletter, 1st Vol., 6th Issue
The header on the cover of this issue read: “GEMINI II. Waterloo Universities' Gay Liberation Movement
Volume 1 Issue 6” Near the bottom of the cover was the note: “August - September '73”
This issue had 6 pages including the front page; its format size was 27.9 cm x 21.6 cm (11.0" x 8.5").
The cover also featured a drawing by Bob Williams.
The Editor began by noting that the theme of the issue was agy pride and liberation.
The section entitled “WHAT'S UP”listed some events in Toronto, Waterloo and London.
There was a letter addressed to Operation Socrates warning about including graphic information about
homosexual sex in the publication; this was followed by a response from Operation Socrates.
There was also a poem by Jo Anne Bates.
The issue contained a page on Gay Pride Week, which had been chosen by the Gay Liberation groups
in Canada to be August 20 - 25 in 1973. There was a page on the extensive activities for
Gay Pride Week organized in Toronto by the Community Homophile Association of Toronto (CHAT).
There was an article on the need for Gay Liberation, a short article on the need for a
community organization, and a short report on the August 15 meeting in the Fat Angel Centre to
discuss forming a community group. The Newsletter closed with a caution to people planning to
apply for landed immigrant status; such persons were advised not to disclose anything about
their sexuality, because of certain sections of the Canadian Immigration Act prohibiting the
entry into Canada of homosexuals.
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, Issue 6, 1973, August - September.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | publications | Gemini II]
1973, August 2 (Thursday) * WUGLM: Operation Socrates: Grand River Cable Show
“COMING SOON ... Aug 2 : 7:30pm. Grand River Cable Channel 12. Panel to answer listeners
questions on the O.F.Y. project Operation Socrates.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 5, 1973, July, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | Operation Socrates]
1973, August 3 (Friday) * Hamilton-McMaster Gay Liberation Movement: Dance
“COMING SOON ... Aug 3 : 8:30pm. Regular monthly dance sponsored by MacMaster [sic] Gay
Lib. Textile Workers Hall near Sherman and Main, Hamilton. Admission $1.50; $1.00 with any Gay Lib
membership card.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 5, 1973, July, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | McMaster groups | Hamilton-McMaster GLM | dances]
1973, August 4 (Saturday) * UWOHA: Dance
“COMING SOON ... Aug 4 : 8:30pm Regular UWOHA biweekly dance.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 5, 1973, July, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | UWO groups | UWOHA | dances]
1973, August 10 (Friday) * WUGLM: Dance
“COMING SOON ... Aug 10 : 8:30pm Waterloo G.L.M. Dance, Contact office to make sure.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 5, 1973, July, p.2.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | dances]
1973, August 15 (Wednesday) * Community Organizational Meeting
This meeting, held off-campus (in the Fat Angel Drop-In Center, I
believe), was intended to assess the interest from the local gay
community in setting up a community group.
[Taken from a notebook of minutes, etc. for 1973 belonging to Jim Parrott; more information
to be added later]
“TOWN MEETING The second meeting of interested gays from the Kitchener-Waterloo area
was held August 15 at the old Fat Angel Centre on College Street. About thirty people from
both the community and the university discussed action to be taken to organize a
community centred gay group.
Several plans and possible places were suggested and discussed by the group. It was felt that
there was a need to establish an organization to provide social activities and educational
services that would serve the gay community and establish good relations with the public.
The group decided to elect a Steering Committee of five people to prepare a report to present
to the community no later than October 10th. At that time a proposal for incorporating
the new organization would be considered and the Board of Executives, president,
vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and five directors would be elected.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, Issue 6, 1973, August - September, p.6.]
[categories: community groups | Kitchener-Waterloo]
1973, August 20 (Monday) - August 25 (Saturday) * Gay Pride Week
“COMING SOON ... Aug 20 - 25 GAY PRIDE WEEK. more details in the next issue.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, issue 5, 1973, July, p.2.]
“GAY PRIDE WEEK The omnibus Bill of August 1969, revised the Criminal Code statutes
relating to homosexuals so that homosexual acts between consenting adults in private were no longer
considered illegal.
In August of 1971 there was a Gay Pride March in Ottawa petitioning the Federal
Government to bring about further changes in the Canadian laws.
In August of 1972 the Gay Liberation groups in Canada chose a week to be Gay Pride Week. This year the
week of August 20 to 25 has been picked as Gay Pride Week by the Canadian Groups. ...
Each city organizes their own activities which can consist of such events as dances, picnics, art shows,
film festivals, poetry readings, marches, rallies and petitioning of legislature.”
[NOTE: It appears that until 1995, groups in the Grand River area confined most of their celebration of
Gay Pride Week to participating in activities in Toronto.]
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 1, Issue 6, 1973, August - September, p.3.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | dances]
1973, September 20 * University of Guelph Homophile Association (UGHA): Letters to Newspaper
“A letter appears in the University of Guelph student newspaper, entitled
‘U. of G. needs gay liberation’.
On September 20th, two more letters appeared calling Guelph a ‘sexually repressed
university.’”
[source: OUT!,
Vol. 1, No. 1, November 1978, p.4 (an article entitled
“GGE 5 Years”).]
[categories: campus groups | Guelph groups | UGHA]
1973, October 1 (Monday) * WUGLM: Meeting
“MONDAY ... Gay Liberation meeting. Psycho drama presentation
‘Why Get Involved with Gay Lib’. Everyone welcome. 8 pm CC113.”
[source: Chevron,
Vol.14, No.12, 1973, September 28 (Friday), “twoc,”
p.14.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | meetings]
1973, October 4 (Thursday) * University of Guelph Homophile Association (UGHA): Letter to Newspaper
“By October 4th, the bigots reacted with a letter entitled ‘Gays are Sick.’
Meanwhile, four authors of the gay letters got together and began making plans.
A weekly column began in the student paper.”
[source: OUT!,
Vol. 1, No. 1, November 1978, p.4 (an article entitled
“GGE 5 Years”).]
[categories: campus groups | Guelph groups | UGHA]
1973, October 5 (Friday) * Chevron: WUGLM Pubs Cancelled by UW Feds: Letter
On p.31 of Chevron,
Vol.14, No.13, 1973, October 5 (Friday), in the “feedback” section was a letter
from Margaret Murray [with the designation “Co-ordinator, Gay Liberation”]
entitled “An open letter from Gay Lib“.
The letter read as follows.
“To: A. Ram, Chairman, Board of Entertainment. After holding seven pubs (June 2-Sept. 7)
which were open to all in the campus centre pub area, I am very sorry to hear that you feel we are
a security risk for the future. We have been in existence for almost three years and have only
had one small incident of hassling in one pub which was easily dealt with. Obviously our clean
record stands for nothing in your estimation. I would like to express my concern over your fear
of the type of people we attract to our pubs from downtown. We have never asked you or anyone
else to babysit us in the past, have never had any trouble with those attending our functions, and
have always operated on a break even point in our budget. What it is [sic] that you fear? Since,
as you should be aware, homosexuals are an oppressed minority group, I feel doubly astounded that
the Students' Council deems it to be more important to be concerned with the Chilean government
rather than with the discrimination against fellow Canadian citizens which is going on right under
their noses. When our pubs were cancelled, we were informed by you that no group or organization
except the Federation could run pubs on this campus. Since this obviously is not true, and since
your real reason slipped your mind, we of gay liberation would like to request a meeting with you
at your convenience to discuss this matter further. In case this letter does not come to your
attention, a copy will be sent to the Chervron.”
[source: Chevron,
Vol.14, No.13, 1973, October 5 (Friday), “feedback,”
p.31.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | Chevron | WUGLM | Pub Cancellation]
1973, October 5 (Friday) * Chevron: WUGLM Pubs Cancelled by UW Feds: Editorial
On p.31 of Chevron,
Vol.14, No.13, 1973, October 5 (Friday), under “chevron editorials” was an editorial
(entitled “Ram has gone too far“) denouncing Art Ram (Chairman, Board of
Entertainment) for his decision to deny WUGLM any more campus pubs.
The editorial began with the following statements. “In a sudden fit of arrogant autocratic
paranoia, Art Ram has decreed that the Gay Liberation Club on campus shall have no more campus pubs.
No matter what reasons or rationalizations Ram can offer for this decision—and he has
some—the act constitutes nothing less than a blatant and ignorant discrimination based on
Ram's own personal biases.”
After describing some previous bureaucratic abuses by Ram, the Editor made the following remarks.
“The supposed rationalization for refusing Gay Lib any more campus pubs is that they are a
security risk and might attract ‘the wrong sort of people’ from off-campus. A lot of
issues come into play here. For the fall term, Ram has resurrected a policy which has lain dormant
the past few years—no club or organization other than a society can hold a pub on this campus
without the ‘co-operation’ of the federation of students.
‘Co-operation’ here means that the federation must hold the license, set prices, and
supervise the pub. So when Gay Lib asked Ram for a fall pub, he told them no. However, the issue
is now not as clear as that: he did not tell them about the policy (that no club can hold a pub),
but that they are a ‘security risk’!”
The editorial later stated: “To single out Gay Lib from all the groups on campus wanting to
run pubs as the group found guilty of abuse before it happens is an embarassingly tissue-thin
excuse for Ram's own prejudice.”
The editorial concluded by exhorting the Student Council to deal immediately and forcefully with
this instance of Ram's bureaucratic abuse.
Note: To the left of the editorial and just above the letter by Margaret Murray was a
satirical cartoon depicting Ram (labelled as “King Arthur”) in royal robes,
saying “.... LET THEM BAKE CAKE!”
[source: Chevron,
Vol.14, No.13, 1973, October 5 (Friday), “chevron editorials,”
p.31.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | Chevron | WUGLM | Pub Cancellation]
1973, October 19 (Friday) * Chevron: WUGLM Pubs Cancelled by UW Feds: Letter
On p.15 of Chevron,
Vol.14, No.15, 1973, October 19 (Friday), in the “feedback” section was another letter
from Margaret Murray, this one entitled “Once upon a time...“.
This letter was a satrical description (in the form of a Bibilical allegory) of recent
controversies involving the Federation of Students (including, implicitly, the cancellation of the
WUGLM pubs).
The cast was comprised of God (played by Andrew Telegdi, President of the Feds), the archangel
Gabriel (played by Art Ram, Chairman, Board of Entertainment), Satan and the Cherubim (played
by various Campus Centre turnkeys), and Devils (played by Gay Lib and friends).
The letter ended with “God stacks his council and hypnotizes the student mass into believing
this is democracy. RAM TELEGDI OUT!”
Jim Parrott notes: I recall that members of WUGLM at the time considered Andrew Telegdi to be
quite homophobic. It is interesting that 32 years later, Telegdi, by then an MP for
Kitchener-Waterloo, gave what many rainbow-folk felt to be the best speech in the 2005
House of Commons debate on same-sex marriage.
[source: Chevron,
Vol.14, No.15, 1973, October 19 (Friday), “feedback,”
p.15; Jim Parrott.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | Chevron | WUGLM | Pub Cancellation]
1973, October 22 (Monday) * WUGLM: : Meeting: Speakers and Screening of Growing-up Female
“MONDAY ... Gay Liberation Movement sponsors ‘Growing-up Female’
film and speakers from Woman's Place. 8 pm Hum. undergrad lounge 2nd floor. Everyone welcome.
For more information call ext #### [WUGLM's telephone line] or drop into our office
CC217C.”
[source: Chevron,
Vol.14, No.15, 1973, October 19 (Friday), “twoc,”
p.25.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | meetings]
1973, October 24 (Wednesday) * University of Guelph Homophile Association (UGHA): 1st Meeting
“The first meeting was held on October 24th at 15B Chapel Lane in downtown
Guelph, with over 30 people in attendance. There had been threats of violence
but none materialized. Regular on-campus meetings began....”
[source: OUT!,
Vol. 1, No. 1, November 1978, p.4 (an article entitled
“GGE 5 Years”).]
“Founded in 1973 as the University of Guelph Homophile Association (UGHA),
the group has remained an officially sanction University of Guelph club, and has
evolved to Guelph Gay Equality (GGE), to Guelph Gay and Lesbian Equality (GGLE),
to Guelph Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Equality (GGLBE or GLoBE), to
today's Guelph Queer Equality (GQE).”
[an archived version of the about file of the
Guelph Queer Equality website taken by the Wayback Machine on 1999, February 25
found at
http://replay.waybackmachine.org/19990225151948/http://www.uoguelph.ca/~gqe/about.html
(accessed and archived 2011-03-18 as a
web archive page in MHTML format)]
NOTE: an earlier group had been founded under the same name on 1971, February 23, but
collapsed in late 1971. Some information on that earlier group follows.
On p.63 of Lesbian and Gay
Liberation in Canada: A Selected Annotated Chronology, 1964-1975 (Donald W. McLeod,
1996),
is an entry for the inaugural meeting of the first University of Guelph Homophile Association.
The textual part of the entry (excluding bibliographic notes) read as follows.
“February 23 * Guelph, Ont. * Between forty and fifty men and women
attended the inaugural meeting of the University of Guelph Homophile
Association (UGHA). Guest speakers at the meeting were Charles Hill of
UTHA and Rev. Ritchie McMurray, an Anglican chaplain. The UGHA believed
that ‘morally, socially, physically, psychologically, emotionally, and in every
other way the homosexual is not inferior to the heterosexual, and homosexuality
is in no way inferior to heterosexuality as a valid way of life.’ Paul
Maurice, editor of the student newspaper the Ontarion, became the group's
first chairperson, UGHA had problems organizing in its early days and
collapsed in late 1971, but was revived in September 1973 with Heather
Ramsay and Rick Stenhouse as prominent members. The revived UGHA
sponsored a speaker's bureau, dances, and a newsletter. The group received
much publicity in the Ontarion; the paper ran a regular ‘Gays at Guelph’
column starting in autumn 1973. Late in 1975 UGHA was renamed Guelph
Gay Equality.”
[source: Lesbian and Gay
Liberation in Canada: A Selected Annotated Chronology, 1964-1975 (Donald W. McLeod,
1996), p.63.]
[categories: campus groups | Guelph groups | UGHA]
1973, October 29 (Monday) * WUGLM: : Meeting: Psychodrama: Some of My Best Friends Are
“MONDAY ... Gay Liberation meeting. ‘Some of my best friends
are’ a psychodrama sponsored by the movement. It's ‘Bring a Straight Friend’
night. All welcome. 8 pm CC113. For more information call ext #### [WUGLM's telephone line]
or drop into our office CC217C.”
Jim Parrott notes: I believe that this psychodrama may have been WUGLM's
Role-Reversal Psychodrama,
which WUGLM developed as an aid in class-room presentations; in this small play, acted by some members
of WUGLM, it was assumed that homosexuality was the norm and heterosexuality was a deviation from
it.
[source: Chevron,
Vol.14, No.16, 1973, October 26 (Friday), “twoc,”
p.15; Jim Parrott.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | meetings]
1973, November 7 (Wednesday) * University of Guelph Homophile Association (UGHA): CHAT & GATE Forum
“...on November 7 a public forum was presented with George Hislop
from the Community Homophile Association of Toronto, and members of the
Gay Alliance Toward Equality in Toronto.”
[source: OUT!,
Vol. 1, No. 1, November 1978, p.4 (an article entitled
“GGE 5 Years”).]
[categories: campus groups | Guelph groups | UGHA | CHAT | GATE | political activism]
1973, November 29 (Thursday) * University of Guelph Homophile Association (UGHA): 1st Dance
“On November 29th, a highly successful first dance was held on the University
campus after some adverse reaction from students.”
[source: OUT!,
Vol. 1, No. 1, November 1978, p.4 (an article entitled
“GGE 5 Years”).]
“The group's first dance was held in the Games Room of Lambton Hall, a University of
Guelph residence, in 1973...”
[an archived version of the about file of the
Guelph Queer Equality website taken by the Wayback Machine on 1999, February 25
found at
http://replay.waybackmachine.org/19990225151948/http://www.uoguelph.ca/~gqe/about.html
(accessed and archived 2011-03-18 as a
web archive page in MHTML format)]
[categories: campus groups | Guelph groups | UGHA | dances]
1973, December 10 (Monday) * WUGLM: Discussing the National Gay Election Coalition
“The GLM meeting on December 10 featured six members from GATE and
THE BODY POLITIC in Toronto. The purpose of the visit was to discuss
NGEC, the National Gay Election Coalition,
set up during the last federal election. NGEC was designed to make political candidates
more aware of discrimination and problems presented by unfair laws against gays. NGEC
was revived in a more determined form this past May at a gay conference held in Ottawa
when another federal election seemed imminent.”
[source: Gemini II,
Volume 2, Issue 1, 1974, January, p.3.]
[categories: campus groups | UW groups | WUGLM | political activism]