Author: Leila Black
-
“Operation Jack-O-Lantern”: Community Organizing in Toronto Against Homophobic Violence
On October 31st 1977, the lesbian and gay community in Toronto organized “Operation Jack-O-Lantern”: patrol teams consisting of community members, lawyers, and first-aiders. These patrols were formed in response to the lack of protection from the Toronto Police on every Halloween, when the gay community was faced with queerbashing and organized homophobic protests. Protestors would…