Americans, Canadians Clash On Men-Only Space
MONTREAL [June 26, 1989] — U.S. AIDS activists in Montreal for the Fifth International conference on AIDS repeatedly clashed with Quebecers over the local policy of denying women entry to gay male bars and clubs.
As the tension increased, ACT UP/New York cancelled plans to hold a large party at Securité Maximum, a popular gay disco in Montreal.
Earlier in the week, several women accompanying ACT UP/Los Angeles' Mark Kostopolous were allowed entry, but only after Kostopolous threatened to organize a 600-person-strong demonstration the next night. [...]
According to a volunteer at Montreal's Gayline, the men-only policy is in place at most of Montreal's gay bars and remains unchallenged by gay, lesbian or heterosexual Quebecers.
[...]
[Marcel] Pleau and several other gay Quebecers also spoke of conflict between French-Canadian and American activists. Differences of opinion arose on the second day of the conference when Quebecers requested that the media be excluded from activist meetings. ACT UP members explained that they use the media to effect social change, while members of Montreal's Reaction SIDA said they didn't trust reporters. Since New Yorkers outnumbered locals, reporters were allowed to remain.
At several demonstrations, small groups of Quebecers could be faintly heard initiating French chants that were quickly drowned out, to their great dismay, said several gay Quebecers. [...]
ACT UP members said they regretted the cultural tensions but felt that overall their visit was tremendously successful.
— Rex Wockner, OutWeek Magazine No. 1, June 26, 1989, p. 10.