Gerald Hannon: A Chronology of Events

December 1977

Hannon's article Men Loving Boys Loving Men--which looks at inter-generational relationships--is published in the now-defunct gay liberation publication The Body Politic (TBP).

December 30, 1977

Police raid and search the offices of TBP.

January 5, 1978

Criminal charges are laid against TBP and its officers under Section 164 of the Criminal Code--use of the mails to distribute immoral, indecent and scurrilous materials.

January 1979

The case of TBP goes to trial. TBP and its officers are acquitted one month later. However, the Crown appeals the case and it drags on for four-and-a-half years.

June 1982

The case is re-tried and TBP and its officers are acquitted a second time.

July 8, 1994

Hannon writes a review of journalist Judy Steed's book Our Little Secret for Xtra, a gay and lesbian publication. Steed has interviewed Hannon for the book--which looked at child abuse cases in Canada. Hannon writes in his review: "[Steed] has let pity and outrage run away with her senses, and has produced a book that takes as its premise the notion that sexual contacts between children and adults can never be ethical. I find that position intellectually unsatisfying."

January 1995

A deal to distribute Steed's book as a fundraiser for the National Action Committee On The Status Of Women (NAC) falls through. The deal was cancelled after a heated internal debate over the economic feasibility of the deal--and allegations that Steed's book was homophobic.

March 11, 1995

Hannon writes an article in The Globe and Mail, The Kiddie-Porn Ring That Wasn't, analyzing the London, Ont police investigation called Project Guardian. Hannon argues, with considerable proof, that the charges were trumped up.

May 1995

London police chief Julian Fantino files a complaint with the Ontario Press Council over the Globe article

November 1995

The Ontario Press Council upholds complaint against The Globe and Mail, arguing the article should have been labelled as opinion, not analysis.

November 11, 1995

After finding out from a Ryerson journalism student that Gerald Hannon teaches a course in freelance writing, Judy Steed tells a roomful of delegates at the Canadian Association of Journalists' Women in Media conference that she had contacted Ryerson Journalism department chair John Miller aski ng Hannon be reprimanded for comments he made about paedophilia.

November 14, 1995

Toronto Sun columnist Heather Bird writes The Professor of Desire, arguing that Hannon had over-stepped the boundaries of teaching and had used the classroom to "proselytize."

November 15, 1995

Ryerson administration says it will investigate Hannon. Hannon is supported by his students and by journalism deparment chair John Miller and acting chair Don Obe.

November 20, 1995

The Special Investigations Services Unit (formerly the morality squad) of the Metro Police say that they will investigate Hannon. In the Men Loving Boys article from 1977, Hannon writes about witnessing a sexual act between an adult man and his 12-year-old lover. The police could charge Hannon under section 152 of the Criminal Code--which covers crimes involving persons who counsel or incite persons under the age of 14 to touching, among other things, for sexual purposes and Section 465.1 which covers conspiracy.

November 15-24, 1995

Hannon, Obe, Bird and Steed square off in a variety of print and electronic media pieces.

November 24, 1995

Metro Police drop investigation of Hannon, saying there was not enough evidence to pursue the case.

November 25, 1995

Toronto Sun front-page headline reads, Ryeson Prof: I'm A Hooker. When asked by a Sun reporter about an article in Fuse magazine that looks at a film in which Hannon discusses his work as a prostitute, Hannon discloses the fact that he has worked part-time as a prostitute since 1987.

November 26, 1995

Despite the continued support of students and the Ryerson journalism department, Ryerson admimistrators suspend Hannon with pay. He is forbidden any contact with his students and restricted from entering the Ryerson campus. Hannon is on contract to teach until April 1996.