May 2016 FINAL.Indd

OVERHEARD On February 29, Julie Green (Yellowknife Centre) addressed the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, praising the federal government’s decision to posthumously pardon Everett George Klippert, who was sentenced to indefinite detention under an anti-gay provision of the Criminal Code of Canada in 1966. S. GREEN: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to homosexuality when he became Prime Minister. celebrate the Government of Canada’s de- The day after the bill received royal assent, gay men cisionM to right a historic wrong by pardoning Everett in New York rose up against harassment by police. George Klippert. Mr. Klippert was the last man in The Stonewall Riots of June 1969 drew the line on Canada to be charged, convicted, and sentenced to public harassment of private behaviour between life in prison for being gay. Mr. Speaker, 50 years consenting adults. Mr. Klippert remained in jail all ago, gay men were routinely harassed by police even this time. He was finally released in 1971, returned though they engaged in sex that took place between to Calgary, and died there 20 years ago… consenting adults. They were charged with gross in- Some things haven’t changed. It is difficult to be decency. Mr. Klippert had been charged with gross openly gay in grade school. Last week we celebrat- indecency in his hometown of Calgary and jailed ed Pink Shirt Day, a means to combat bullying in for three years. When he finished his sentence, Mr. school. This began as an important initiative to sup- Klippert decided to make a new start and moved port gay youth, to promote their self-acceptance and here to the Northwest Territories. He lived in Pine acceptance by the rest of us, and has of course gone Point and worked at the mine as a mechanic’s assis- on to cover all forms of excuses for bullying. What tant. In 1965, the RCMP arrested Mr. Klippert and has changed in 50 years? While the law changed, again charged him with gross indecency. A court-or- many gays and lesbians live their sexuality quietly dered psychiatrist assessed Mr. Klippert as an “in- and privately because society as a whole is not sup- curable homosexual.” Judge J.H. Sissons agreed he portive of us. Fifteen years ago, I was part of a gay was a dangerous offender based on his two sets of and lesbian organization called Out North. We lob- convictions for gross indecency. Sissons sentenced bied to have the government grant the same rights him to life in prison. In effect, he was sentenced to a to us as to the rest of society. After a court battle, life in prison for being gay. we won the right to adopt children, and in the new The Supreme Court of Canada later upheld Human Rights Act, the right not to be discriminat- this decision, and then all hell broke loose. Tommy ed against on the basis of sexuality. Yellowknife is a Douglas led the charge in the House of Commons, welcoming community for gays and lesbians, and we saying that homosexuality should not be considered are in important roles throughout the community. I a criminal issue. He found an ally in the Justice Min- am proud to be the first woman married to a wom- ister of the day, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, who said, an elected to this Legislature. All this started with “There is no place for the state in the bedrooms of Everett Klippert. I am grateful to him for being the the nation. What is done in private between adults catalyst of these changes and join in congratulating doesn’t concern the criminal code.” The modern the Government of Canada on righting this historic movement to acquire equality rights for gays and wrong. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. ◉ lesbians began in Canada. Trudeau decriminalized Northern Public Affairs, May 2016 13.

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