Posted by Wayves Volunteer 25/09/2013
NSRAP proudly presents Geral Hannon, Queer Canada's 'Eyewitness-in-Chief' to deliver the keynote address at this year's Community Heroes Gala on November 2nd.
From NSRAP:
The Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project (NSRAP) is pleased and proud to announce that award-winning journalist and influential queer activist Gerald Hannon will be the keynote speaker at the NSRAP 2013 Community Heroes Gala.
Hannon was one of the original members of The Body Politic, Canada’s pioneering gay rights magazine, and one of the architects of the Canadian queer liberation movement.
“The Body Politic has been ranked one the 20 most influential publications in Canadian history,” said NSRAP chair Lisa Buchanan. “Mr. Hannon was, and still is, at the forefront, writing about the queer community for over 40 years. His eyewitness accounts of these struggles are an integral part of our history.”
In his writing Hannon has tackled issues from police stings targeting gay men, to the rights of sex workers, and has also been a champion for academic freedom and freedom of the press.
In 1978 Hannon authored an article that led to a police raid and obscenity charges against The Body Politic. Hannon and The Body Politic were acquitted on Feb. 14, 1979, a day celebrated by many queer Canadians as Pink Triangle Day.
Addressing his involvement with The Body Politic Mr. Hannon says: "I got hooked, I guess, on empowerment, the transformation of The Helpless Queer with no history and an unlikely future into Someone, into a group of Someones, who uncovered a history, who found heroes, who grabbed today and shook it till tomorrow fell out of its pocket and there was a place there in it for us."
Since The Body Politic ceased publication in 1987, Hannon has continued to write on queer liberation and cultural issues. His work has appeared in many Canadian publications, including Toronto Life, Quill & Quire, The Globe & Mail, and Xtra!
NSRAP’s 10th annual Community Heroes Gala will be held Saturday, November 2 at 6 p.m. at the Atlantica Hotel. This year’s theme is “We’re Here! We’re Queer!!” Celebrating The Past & Future of LGBTQ Activism in Nova Scotia. Tickets for the event can be purchased online or by contacting NSRAP directly.
