Breaking Boundaries: Women’s Lives In and Out of the Closet

Advertisement

Originally published in TEACH Magazine, 50th Anniversary of the Decriminalization of Homosexuality in Canada Special Issue, 2019

By Elise Chenier

When the Canadian government updated the criminal code in 1954, it made a small but significant change to the law regarding gross indecency. It removed the phrase “male person.”

Gross indecency was a catch-all statute used to charge someone with behaviour deemed indecent according to the morals and values of mainstream society, but it was most commonly used against men who engaged in sexual acts with other men. During World War II (1939–1945), it became more widely known that women also engaged in same-sex relations, partly because the war brought many women into single-sex environments, like military barracks. After the war, a flood of paperback novels, most of which were written by men, popularized the image of sex-crazed lesbians preying on unsuspecting and naïve women.

For the first time, lesbians were viewed as more than just sinful and repulsive. They were a danger to society. By removing the phrase “male person” from the crime of gross indecency, the Canadian government declared sex between women a crime.

The law was revised yet again in 1969, this time eliminating gross indecency as a crime when the two individuals involved were over the age of 21 and engaged in sexual relations in private. Did women breathe a sigh of relief? Yes and no. The change in law mattered, but not because lesbians were able to be open about their sexuality. It mattered because it signalled the beginning of a new era of greater freedom and acceptance, and, for the first time, allowed women to hope for better days ahead.

Subscribe to Keep Reading

🔑 You’re one step away from unlocking premium content.
Subscribe now for just $15.99/year and get full access!
If you’re already subscribed, please .

Elise Chenier is a Professor of History at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC, where she is the founder and Director of the Archives of Lesbian Oral Testimony (alotarchives.org). She has been researching and writing on the history of sexuality for thirty years, and is currently writing a book on same-sex marriage from the 1950s to the 1980s.

Education News

Is Your Child’s Literacy on Vacation? How Parents Can Beat the Summer Slide

Did you know students can lose up to two months of learning progress over summer break? Here's how to tackle the “summer slide” and keep kids engaged.

Nominations Open for Heroes of the Classroom Teacher Recognition Program

Nominations are accepted through August 3. Ten finalists will advance to a public vote for the chance to win the Grand Prize—valued at approximately $16,000 in cash and prizes.

New School Safety Trends Report Shows Training and Technology Are Saving Lives in U.S. Schools

CENTEGIX’s 2025 School Safety Trends Report reveals a national movement toward proactive, integrated school safety strategies, including campus mapping.

Girls Experienced Disproportionate Setbacks in STEM Skills Post-COVID

COVID-19 has been an unequal crisis, disrupting learning more deeply for some student groups than others.

Join Our Newsletter

Get 10% off a subscription, monthly giveaways, and the latest updates—straight to your inbox!

Elise Chenier
Elise Chenier
Elise Chenier is a Professor of History at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC, where she is the founder and Director of the Archives of Lesbian Oral Testimony (alotarchives.org). She has been researching and writing on the history of sexuality for thirty years, and is currently writing a book on same-sex marriage from the 1950s to the 1980s.

Advertisement

Read More

Is Your Child’s Literacy on Vacation? How Parents Can Beat the Summer Slide

Did you know students can lose up to two months of learning progress over summer break? Here's how to tackle the “summer slide” and keep kids engaged.

The Power of Music and Melody: Using Songs to Engage Young Learners

By harnessing the power of music, teachers can create a lively and dynamic atmosphere that also improves concentration, focus, and retention.

Nominations Open for Heroes of the Classroom Teacher Recognition Program

Nominations are accepted through August 3. Ten finalists will advance to a public vote for the chance to win the Grand Prize—valued at approximately $16,000 in cash and prizes.

Real (and Really Funny) Math

I'm an author of math books, which may sound like a dry job, but that’s exactly why I do it. It’s my goal to show kids that math can be fun (and funny!)

New School Safety Trends Report Shows Training and Technology Are Saving Lives in U.S. Schools

CENTEGIX’s 2025 School Safety Trends Report reveals a national movement toward proactive, integrated school safety strategies, including campus mapping.

Exploring Indigenous Culture Through the Senses: A Transformative Learning Experience

At McKenzie Towne School in Alberta, students are learning through touch, scent, and sound with the Indigenous Sensory Box Project.
agen live casino | 10 no deposit slots | real slots real money | nằm mơ thấy nhiều rắn | xổ số ngày 25 tháng 04 | 1 x pci e x16 slot | xsmncnht | 7890 | societal | truyên ngôn tình hay | lá 3 bích | pci card in pci express slot | sơ đồ tư duy tây tiến | 2xsport | casino lừa đảo bạn như thế nào | myb casino no deposit bonus | slot machine java | game bài slot đổi thưởng | casino baden restaurant | royal gclub casino | thống kê kqxsmb theo tổng | kqxs100 | tuyển dụng casino tphcm | vo88 | game xèng đổi thưởng | ku11 today | sheraton saigon casino | truyện ngôn | doc bao24h hom nay | casino trực tuyến khuyến mãi | truyen tranh sex mau | casino deutsch | fantan casino | trực tiếp đá gà casino hôm nay | soi kèo malaysia vs | xổ số cần thơ ngày 19 tháng 1 | golden crown casino poipet | west casino | santastic slots | ku casino app | casino hotel for sale | trusted casino | quay slot truc tuyen | nạp mobile legends | xem truc tiep thvl2 | chim bay vào nhà đánh con gì | super 7 casino | bejeweled slot machine | book of oz slot | venus bị bắt | bitsat slot | xin slot nghĩa la gì | chó sủa là chó không cắn | tải minecraft 1 18 5 miễn phí | nha cai casino | fabet live tv | thương con cá rô đồng tập 1 | thevang tv | 188keo | tropicana casino online review | đồ sơn casino | kết quả max 3d | gunny hoc sinh | chats slot gaming center | casino bern speisekarte | best casino hotel in hanoi | choi game 98 man hinh rong | kqbd7m |