[LINK] "Trudeau, Tewksbury among first inductees into Queer Hall of Fame"

[rfmcdonald]

Many once unimaginable histories are now publicly recognized.

Pierre Trudeau's flamboyance and tendency to provoke debate often landed him in controversy and those traits have now landed him in the Queer Hall of Fame.

Mr. Trudeau is one of five inaugural inductees into the newly-established hall, along with Olympic gold swimmer Mark Tewksbury and three other long-time activists in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

The former prime minister was a key figure in decriminalizing homosexuality and his famous partial quote — “there's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation” — helped convince Parliament to pass the law in 1969.

Mr. Trudeau's son, Justin, said he is incredibly honoured that the work his father did is being acknowledged.

“I know that the decriminalization of homosexuality 40 years ago was something that my father was very proud of,” Justin said.

“He'd be touched,” he said, of his father who passed away almost nine years ago.

[. . .]

Paul Therien, chairman of the Queer Hall of Fame, said the hall was started after his group decided they wanted to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality.

“For lack of better terminology, Trudeau was the wrench that turned the nut,” Mr. Therien laughed.

“There's not a lot of acknowledgment in the queer community of these people. They really are heroes.”