Tom Hooper: Digital and Public Historian

Activism on Bill C-66 (2018)

Bill C-66 (2018) established a process to expunge criminal records for historically unjust convictions against 2SLGBTQ people.

I joined with historians Gary Kinsman, Steven Maynard, and Patrizia Gentile, alongside other activists and lawyers to demand changes to the bill.

C-66 only included offenses of gross indecency or buggery/anal intercourse, it excluded those charged using bawdy-house and other offenses. It also established an onerous process to apply for expungements.

C-66 was adopted into law without any changes. As a result, only 9 expungements have been granted.

I worked with Patrizia Gentile, Gary Kinsman, and Steven Maynard to submit this brief to the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights. Click here to download.
A coalition of activist, lawyers, and historians appeared before the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, April 18, 2018. I edited and produced this video.