Fonds F0117 - Christine Bearchell fonds

Chris Bearchell's career as a dyke dynamo covers nearly three decades, two of which the archives holds. Chris began writing for Toronto's Body Politic (TBP) in 1975, often as the 'only lesbian'; she joined the governing collective in 1978 and stayed until the paper's demise in 1987. In 1987 she helped found Epicene, a gay news magazine that only published for the year. Hugely influential, and an unrelenting activist, she was a key player with the Coalition for Gay Rights in Ontario, and acted as Chair of the Committee to Defend John Damien, a racing steward fired in 1975 solely for being gay.
Even after the newspapers demise, her influence did not wane. An astute analyst of pornography, she made her own - and passionately opposed censorship. She has consistently fought for the rights of queer kids, whatever their orientation. Unrelenting, loud, and infinitely proud, Chris' influence continued to be felt in Canada's queer community until her untimely death in 2007 (Portions taken from the National Portrait Collection induction statement).