Justice committee  I'm going to start by saying I'm not a lawyer. It does seem to me, though, that the law has become archaic through lack of use and application. I think the bawdy house laws in the last two years have only been used once or twice. I would ask this question, and probably throw it back to you: What other remedies exist in the law?

Justice committee  It would remove a very difficult and distant memory for me, but I really come to the table saying it's not about me. I'm carrying all these other voices with me. It's on behalf of a much larger group who were wronged, and in many cases had their lives ruined. It's really not about me.

Justice committee  I think there are two things that are important. I think the posthumous provision is important. I would support that without question. As well, I've done a lot of work with historians, who will be presenting in the future. When we presented on Bill C-66, I also said, “Look, I don't want to have my record at the Toronto Police Service or the Scarborough Court anymore, but I don't want to see my records disappear off the face of the earth, because I think it is important to preserve our history”, so I would also add to your point that I would very much like to see the preservation, with my express permission and with agreement, of our documents in the historical archives of such places as the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives in Toronto.

Justice committee  Thank you and good evening. I really appreciate the invitation to be able to speak to you this evening. I would like to thank the members of the committee for this invitation. I will be speaking in English. I'm really here tonight to speak very specifically about the impact of the bawdy house law on LGBTQ people over many years.