Gay activist Jim Egan’s fight for equality becomes first LGBTQ Heritage Minute
TORONTO — Director Stephen Dunn says making the first Heritage Minute about Canada’s LGBTQ community reminded him of the countless other queer stories which have gone mostly untold over the years.
His sliver of history debuted Wednesday recounting gay activist Jim Egan’s work for equal rights, in what Dunn hopes will mark a small step towards putting some of those stories on record for the entire country.
“Generally queer history isn’t really well documented for a number of obvious reasons,” the St. John’s filmmaker said, pointing out that gay sex wasn’t decriminalized in Canada until 1969, which likely pushed many stories into the closet.
“I really struggle as a queer person to find people throughout history to look up to,” he added.