On June 14th, 2013, The Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives (CLGA) will open its doors for Gay Premises: Radical Voices In The Archives, 1973 - 1983, an exhibit exploring the ways in which Toronto - based gay newspaper The Body Politic became a dominant voice in early lesbian and gay movements across Canada and internationally.

The exhibition’s focus begins during the year of the CLGA’s formation (1973) and ends with the application of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1983). The curated display features original submissions, photographs, posters and news items from activists who contributed to The Body Politic and to other radical gay publications that formed the core of the early collection of the CLGA. In tandem with the exhibit, several local artists will interact with the display to conjure different perspectives and interpretations.

In addition to the archival items on display, many photographs featured in the upcoming exhibit will be styled to invite engagement from viewers. The CLGA will encourage visitors to post their comments and memories on a corkboard ‘wall of photographs,’ which will mimic a 1970s photo editor's wall. These contributions will be used in a forthcoming virtual exhibit, and will remain on display until Gay Premises closes in September.

"The CLGA’s goal is to discover more of the untold stories from this particular time period," says exhibition curator and CLGA board member Karen Stanworth. "We are asking the public to help share their histories and shed light on archival pieces containing narratives still left untold."

Gay Premises: Radical Voices In The Archives, 1973 - 1983 opens on Friday, June 14, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. with a public wine and cheese reception. The Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives is located at 34 Isabella Street in Toronto.

About Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives:

Currently celebrating its 40th year, The Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives aids in the recovery and preservation of LGBT histories. Its mission: to acquire, preserve, organize, and give public access to information and materials in any medium, by and about LGBT people, primarily produced in or concerning Canada. To support this function, the Archives also maintain significant non-archival collections, which include a research library, international subject files, and an international collection of queer periodicals. It is the CLGA’s mandate to make this information available to the public for education and research. Over the years, the CLGA has helped hundreds of people - students, artists, journalists, lawyers, filmmakers complete numerous projects inside and outside of the LGBT community.

Website:http://www.clga.ca
Twitter: @CLGArchives
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/CLGArchives