40 years ago today, police raided four steam baths in downtown Toronto.
Nearly 300 people were arrested in the Bathhouse Raids, which became a landmark moment in Canada’s LGBTQ2S+ rights movement and the struggle for acceptance and equal rights.
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Nearly 300 people were arrested in the Bathhouse Raids, which became a landmark moment in Canada’s LGBTQ2S+ rights movement and the struggle for acceptance and equal rights.
Read more 👇
200 officers participated in Operation Soap, which was carried out on the evening of Feb 5, 1981.
The police — some of them armed with crowbars and sledgehammers — entered four downtown bathhouses and arrested the owners, staff, and patrons found inside.
The police — some of them armed with crowbars and sledgehammers — entered four downtown bathhouses and arrested the owners, staff, and patrons found inside.
Many were charged under laws against sex work and “indecent acts”. Police used the vagueness of these laws to target gay men.
Officers were accused of using violence and homophobic slurs during the Bathhouse Raids, which was the largest mass arrest in Toronto's history.
Officers were accused of using violence and homophobic slurs during the Bathhouse Raids, which was the largest mass arrest in Toronto's history.
"Before they took us out of the room, they used a pen to gouge the room number into the backs of our hands", said one of the men arrested at the Barracks bathhouse.
LGBTQ2S+ people faced widespread prejudice and discrimination in Canada. Many of those arrested feared being outed and losing their jobs or damaging relationships with friends and family.
In 1980, a 20-year-old gay man from Toronto killed himself after being arrested in a raid.
In 1980, a 20-year-old gay man from Toronto killed himself after being arrested in a raid.
“Something very horrible has happened in this city, which I think is not just a gay issue, but a human rights issue” an arrestee told a public meeting organized in the aftermath of the raids.
The gay community and supporters rallied the night after the raids. 3,000 people marched on the local police headquarters and the Ontario Legislature.
Many public meetings and protests followed, demanding justice for the breach of civil liberties.
Many public meetings and protests followed, demanding justice for the breach of civil liberties.
Gay activist George Hislop, who had been charged in an earlier police raid, was one of the community leaders who spoke out against the raids.
No sex work was found during the raids and most were ultimately found innocent. The raids caused lasting damage to relations between police and the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Despite the protests and public outcry, cases of harassment and violence continued.
Despite the protests and public outcry, cases of harassment and violence continued.
In September 2000, police raided the Pussy Palace bathhouse event. Charges from that raid were later dismissed.
There was no formal public enquiry into the Bathhouse Raids.
In 2016, Toronto police chief Mark Saunders issued a public apology for the Bathhouse Raids.
There was no formal public enquiry into the Bathhouse Raids.
In 2016, Toronto police chief Mark Saunders issued a public apology for the Bathhouse Raids.
Photo credits (in order): Toronto Star/Frank Lennon, all others The Body Politic courtesy of Xtra Magazine.
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