Exactly 52 years ago, the revolutionary newspaper The Body Politic was first published in Toronto. With its first edition hot off the press on Nov. 1, 1971, the publication broke barriers in the city and country and is considered one of the first queer-focused magazines in Canada.
The creators of The Body Politic first operated out of the then-owner of Glad Day Bookshop Jearld Moldenhauer’s home, creating a magazine that covered topics considered “taboo.” Those working on the magazine delved into topics including but not limited to queer sex, gay relationships, and 2SLGBTQ+ culture.
While many of these themes are often still considered contentious in modern times, they were even more controversial during the magazine’s run from 1971 to 1987. The Body Politic was the target of protests, legal action, and police raids.
While the publication was incredibly important, creating community and documenting 2SLGBTQ+ culture and history, The Body Politic did have its flaws. Throughout its run and in the time since, critics have called out the magazine for being predominantly operated by and for gay, cis-gender, white men. Many felt this led to a lack of coverage on issues impacting the rest of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, namely BIPOC and women.
HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE BODY POLITIC
According to the University of Western Ontario (UWO), The Body Politic was Canada’s leading gay liberation periodical in the 1970s and 80s. The magazine operated as a collective, meaning that the writers, photographers, editors and other people working on the paper were essentially all working for one another.
“Only a handful of people were ever paid for their work on the journal, the few who were received small, one-time lump sum payments rather than regular salaries,” reads a UWO website dedicated to the magazine’s history.
“Truly, [The] Body Politic was, for all involved with it, a labour of love.”
And labour they did. The magazine, first published bi-monthly, eventually moved to a monthly model after a few years of distribution. They delved into subjects mainstream media often neglected to cover, including the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the Toronto bathhouse raids.
The collective who owned and operated the magazine formed the Pink Triangle Press, which still operates today, with outlets including Xtra Magazine. They also formed another existing organization, The ArQuives, formerly known as the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives. Among other historical documents and artifacts, The ArQuives is home to the complete collection of The Body Politic editions.
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