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The Body Politic
Year Published: 1978Resource Type: Serial Publication (Periodical) Cx Number: CX832 The Body Politic - a magazine for gay liberation is aimed at the building of a gay movement and spreading gay consciousness. The paper features social and political issues representing the struggle of gay men and lesbians for basic human rights and dignity. Abstract: The Body Politic - a magazine for gay liberation is aimed at the building of a gay movement and spreading gay consciousness. The paper features social and political issues representing the struggle of gay men and lesbians for basic human rights and dignity. Through news coverage, regular columns, feature articles and reviews, the Body Politic offers a medium of communication for and controlled by gays. This issue features a report of events surrounding the January 1979 trial of Body Politic collective members. Pink Triangle Press (The Body Politics' publisher) and its three directors are charged with "use of the mails for the distribution of obscene material and possession of obscene material for the purpose of distribution". Body Politic views the issue as not just one of "immorality" but as repression of a minority group and the right of a group to discuss issues of concern in an independent forum. In December 1977 the office of the Body Politic was raided by Metro Toronto and Ontario Provincial Police. They seized corporate records, cheque books, subscription lists, distribution and advertising records, manuscripts and personal mail. On January 5, 1978 the above charges were laid. The raid and subsequent charges are seen by Body Politic as political, not sexual repression and as "an attempt to force the community back into a closet of silence" Body Politic claims the rights of all minorities are presently under attack and action against the Body Politic is a clear attempt to destroy a "long-established and growing voice of social protest." Also of interest in this issue is "Civil Rights Under Attack: A Chronology." This article outlines events of the past ten years where civil rights have been jeopardized. Subject Headings |