Photo by Justin Morris and used courtesy of Myseum of Toronto.īut the conversation was not just about acknowledging the history of the raids. Sticky notes on the boards describe issues and possible solutions for community relations with the police. They said they realized that one performance couldn’t fully address all the issues raised by Operation Soap, so they decided to host the panel, World Cafe, and storytelling performances.Īttendees of the No More S#%&! event laugh during the World Cafe and discussion part of the afternoon. Organizers Marcus Peterson and Jeffrey Canton were inspired to host an in-depth discussion on the legacy of Operation Soap when they saw the play Raid at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. No More S#%&!: Operation Soap Revisited is a multi-part event that held its community conversation and World Cafe on March 12 at the 519 Church Street Community Centre. Two events at Myseum of Toronto’s Intersections festival, which runs to the end of March, are highlighting queer history in Toronto and using it as a springboard for discussions about the past, present, and possible futures for LGBTQ Torontonians. From the beginning of the movement, gay and lesbian bars and bathhouses have acted as a sanctuary for queer and trans people, a place to organize, to cruise, and a place to connect with community. Since then, some LGBTQ communities have become more visible in the city, more mainstream, while others continue to live in the margins and face discrimination. It was a watershed moment in local history, which galvanized the local community and started a movement. It has been 36 years since the Toronto bathhouse raids, Operation Soap, and the protests that followed.
Photo by Justin Morris and used courtesy of Myseum of Toronto. From left to right: Arsham Parsi, Alec Butler, March-Ché Devonish, moderator A.W. The panelists at the No More S#%&! event March 12.