We Demand Rally

[3][2] There is a history of gay activism, focusing on education and awareness,[2] in Canada before 1971, such as the work of Ted northe, however there were no large scale organizations or demonstrations up to this point.

The rally had speeches given by demonstrators such as Charlie Hill of Toronto Gay Action, George Hislop and Pat Murphy of CHAT, Pierre Mason of Le front de libération des homosexuels, and John Williams of Cleveland, Ohio.

[9][10][11] The groups involved presented, as part of the demonstration, a 13-page document containing a list of demands to the Canadian Parliament, drafted by Herbert Spiers and Brian Waite of TGA with contributions from 12 gay activist groups across Canada under the name August 28 Gay Day Committee[12][13] and signed by members of TGA.

The march was both celebrating reforms which have won since the original rally and protesting continued inequality and issues, such as having cops at Pride events and LGBT homelessness.

[6][17] A conference entitled "'We Demand': History/Sex/Activism in Canada/Nous demandons: Histoire/Sexe/Activisme au Canada" was hosted on August 28, 2011, commemorating the forty year anniversary of the march.