Gays for Equality

• GFE

Gays For Equality (GFE) was established in 1973 as a student group at the University of Manitoba to provide information and counseling to gay men and lesbians, and to engage in public education on homosexuality to reduce prejudice and fear. Founding members included William (Bill) Lewis. Long term active members included Chris Vogel and Richard North. Early activities included a phone counseling service and small lending library. Originally intended to serve students, GFE soon became a vital resource for the greater gay and lesbian community of Winnipeg, working collaboratively with other gay and lesbian organizations, sponsoring and supporting community projects and efforts, and finding ways to educate and engage the wider public on gay and lesbian topics. In 1983 the GFE office moved from the University of Manitoba campus to the Winnipeg Gay Community Centre, forming the nucleus of what would become known as the Gay Resource Centre, which provided meeting space for community members and special-interest groups. During this time GFE and the wider community engaged in important political work and activism, campaigning for inclusion of Sexual Diversity in the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. In July of 1988, due to the dissolution of the Winnipeg Gay Community Centre, attributed to changes within the lesbian and gay community, the Winnipeg Gay/Lesbian Resource Centre was officially established as an independent entity. The former GFE Counselling Unit was amalgamated into the Gay/Lesbian Info Line. The accumulated reference and research collection, together with the library founded by GFE and later managed by The Council on Homosexuality and Religion, were combined as the Resource Centre Library. In 1999 The Winnipeg Gay/Lesbian Resource Centre once again evolved, becoming the Rainbow Resource Centre with an expanded mission to serve Manitoba’s gay, lesbian, transgender, two-spirit and bisexual communities