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	What we got: The details
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What we got: The details
Immigration

1974

• TBP Sep 74: Liberationist defies immigration act. U.S. activist John Kyper turned back from border at Niagara Falls 26 Aug 74 after telling officials he is gay. Brings case to GATE; gets wide media coverage. (Kyper later got special minister's permit to cross border; addressed GO on 25 Mar 75.) Story notes Section 5 of Immigration Act defines homosexuals, along with pimps, prostitutes and drug addicts, as "undesirable." 1966 White Paper on Immigration had recommended removal of references to homosexuality from the Act.

• TBP Nov 74: Government may end ban on immigrants. In 15 Oct 74 meeting (forced by threat of demo by GO), Manpower and Immigration minister Robert Andras says he would recommend to cabinet removal of homosexuality from Act. Reaffirmed this in letter to GO, 23 Oct 74. Green Paper on reforms to Act due before Parliament in early 1975.

1975

• TBP Jan 75: Toronto gays join immigration fight. Green Paper tabled in Commons 3 Feb 75. GATE calls it "waste of paper." Demo (undated) at local federal office; nationwide day of protest planned; no date yet set.

• TBP Jan 75: What Green Paper says (or doesn't say) about gays. Quotes from paper (simply stating current restrictions).

• TBP Jul 75: Gay Community Effects Concerted Effort To Protest Failures of Immigration Paper. Reports gay responses to public hearings (held in 21 cities) on Green Paper, by GATE Vancouver (undated), GATE Toronto (9 Jun 75) and groups in St John's, Fredericton, Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton, Windsor, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and Edmonton (also noted in Feb 76 story: Halifax and Quebec City). Groups attack not only anti-gay aspects of paper, but those seen as racist (quotas based on nation of origin).

• TBP Dec 75: STOP PRESS: Immigration ban may fall. Notes G&M report (undated; McLeod dates it 21 Oct) saying that yet unpublished report of Special Joint Committee on Immigration Policy will call for repeal of ban on homosexuals in Act.

1976

• TBP Feb 76: Parliamentary committee recommends end to gay exclusion. Confirms 21 Oct 75 G&M story above. (Story below says committee reported 6 Nov 75.)

• TBP Dec 76: Gay exclusion to be dropped from Immigration Act. Legislation based on 6 Nov 75 committee report has been prepared, but "there is no indication when [it] will be introduced."

1977

• TBP Feb 77: New Immigration Act a victory for gays. Bill tabled in Commons (no date given) that removes ban on homosexuals. Government press releases on bill do not mention the change, but Bud Cullen (minister responsible) notes them on CBC radio. David Garmaise of NGRC says: "This represents the first major victory at the federal level for the Canadian gay movement."

• TBP Sep 77: New immigration act drops gay exclusion. Reports passage of bill (with no date; 25 Jul 77 in McLeod).

• TBP Nov 77: New Immigration Act not yet in force. And won't be, story says, "until early in 1978, or possibly even later." John Kyper, seeking clarification of his status (his Aug 74 deportation order still standing), is told by Immigration he still needs minister's permit to enter Canada (and may need one even after Act is in effect).

1978

• TBP Apr 78: Immigration law in force, flood of fruits expected. Act proclaimed, to be effective 1 Apr 78. Story notes Act still "severely criticized by concerned groups for its allegedly racist and discriminatory nature."

Thus ends the saga of "undesirable" homosexuals in the Canadian Immigration Act. The issue continued in US immigration law. See in TBP: dykes hassled going to Michigan Womyn's Music Festival (Oct 79); ambiguities about ban on homosexuals (Nov 79, Dec 79, May 80, Nov 80); case of Canadian activist Philip Fotheringham, turned back at border in 1981 (Jun, Jul & Oct 81); and story on "loophole" closed in 1984 (Sep 84), which reports "Immigration and Naturalization Service still considers lesbians and gay men unfit for entry into the US." I have not tracked later U.S. developments; the ban on homosexuals was lifted, I believe, but another was later imposed on people with HIV.

There were later Canadian immigration stories as well: on people trying to sponsor immigrant lovers under "family" provisions; and on others seeking refugee status based on their homosexuality. But I have not recorded those here.

What we demanded; What we got (Summary on Immigration)