Ever since certain homosexual acts were decriminalized in 1969, queer activists have fought for – and won – a series of public policy battles in governments across Canada. As Queer Mobilizations shows, anti-discrimination legislation, the extension of benefits to same-sex couples, the right to marry, adoption rights, and the protection of gay-straight alliances in schools did not result from a single act nor from the work of a single organization but rather from the concerted efforts of many people, in many places, over many years.
This volume examines the relationships between LGBTQ activists and local, provincial, and federal governments. The contributors explore how various governments have tried to regulate and repress LGBTQ movements, and how, in turn, queer activists have successfully shaped public policy, across the political spectrum, from city halls to the House of Commons.