Foregrounds: Mapping gay, lesbian & bisexual history in Fredericton, 1969-1992

Abstract

This thesis documents the history of the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community in Fredericton between 1969 and 1992, with particular reference to the places where that community gathered, socialized, and organized towards political goals. Before 1980, gay men and lesbians in Fredericton had no separate public gathering places, socializing primarily in private homes, straight bars, or cruising areas. From 1980-1985, gay and lesbian social organizations hosted dances, meetings, and other events that claimed public spaces for homosexuals. When a gay bar opened in 1985, volunteers turned their attention from hosting social events to lobbying for province-wide human rights reform. Throughout this history, Fredericton’s queer social spaces have been transient, dynamic, and mobile, much like the local queer population that created them.