The Labaye case, which involves a Montreal swingers club charged under the "bawdy house" provision of the Criminal Code, is set to be heard by the Supreme Court on March 18, 2005. The Labaye case is reminiscent of a legal battle resolved last Wednesday (February 2), when Crown prosecutors stayed charges against the owners of Goliath, a Calgary gay bathhouse raided in 2002. Egale, a national organization that advances equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans-identified people was active in that case, but was recently denied intervenor status in the Labaye case.

According to Gilles Marchildon, executive director of the Egale, in an earlier interview with Hour, "The court does not always give reasons for denying a leave to intervene. We tried to be present because a lot of the same issues that played out with the Goliath bath raids and other raids were being presented in that case. But that is all the information we got. I think we were the only GLBT group who asked to intervene."

One wonders, however, given their focus on equal marriage, how much bargaining power Egale would have been able to bring to the table. On January 14, 2005, president Stephen Burri announced that for three months Egale's other activities would take a back seat since the vast majority of Egale's resources were needed for the equal marriage campaign. Three months may not seem long, but it has already prompted board member and former chair of Egale's Trans Committee Susan Gapka to resign, citing "the board's recent decision to focus almost exclusively upon equal marriage," a strategy that, in her words, does not "translate into community empowerment and agency for the most disadvantaged persons within the LGBT populations of Canada."

Gilles Marchildon agrees that gay marriage has consumed a lot of the advocacy group's time and energy, but says, "There's a perception it's all we've been doing and that perception is based on the fact that gay marriage is the issue that is getting the most media coverage right now. There's a lot of our other work that doesn't get reported on, 'cause it's not as headline grabbing."


 
 

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News flash!     "Government has no business in the bedrooms of the nation."--the late Pierre Elliot Trudeau. <<>> Too true. It is truly amazing to behold how our priorities are constantly taking a step back instead of forward, isn't it? Child prostitution? White slavery? Incest? Abuse? Pedophelia? Sure these are important issues that demand immediate attention but let's stick a pin in that so that we can punish consenting adults instead. <<>> Look, I know there is a social dimension to the law but on the scale of deviant sins it seems to me that this is terribly misplaced tax dollars and energy. Is the law there to punish those we deem fit to be punished or to protect those who cannot protect themselves? It seems that this question has already been answered if I'm readng this article right.
Pedro Eggers	{3 votes}	April 3rd, 2005
If only we put as much efforts battling incest and other sexual aggressions     We are dealing with people who freely attend these clubs. There is no money involved between sex partners. There is no power games (other than those people willingly get involved in). What are we so afraid of? People having a good time. I've never attended a swingers club but I am not offended or I don't feel threatened if other people do. There is a lot more to think about when it comes to legalizing prostitution for example. Because we have to take into consideration the well being of women (or men) offering their services. We want to make sure they are not being abused. But when it comes to swingers club, I have no problems believing that 95% of people showing up do it out of their own will. The other 5% probably do it to please their partner.
Marc Charette	{34 votes}	February 14th, 2005
Free will !     Didn't our forefathers fight for our right to foreplay ? If not, maybe they should have ! What goes on behind a consenting adults closed doors - is just that - behind closed doors. As long as it's not hurtful, dangerous or against anyone's will- the police ( and related establishment ) should keep their noses out of it. The problem lies - in how would you feel if one of these "bawdy" houses - was situated right next door to you ? Chances are that you probably wouldn't be doing cartwheels accross the front lawn. One of the possible solutions to this - is some form of government regulation - such as proper "zoning" for such activities/establishments. Problem with this - is that again- we want the government out of our bedrooms, not in them. Other huge problem, is that these clubs at times- tend to attract a very seedy element, which does not make it an attractive addition to becoming a part of the neighbourhood. So what do we do ? Hard to say. The liberal in me says- allow the damn things and let people love as much as they can. The conservative in me says- get those damn dirty hippies out of my neighbourhood. I'm confused, as most people are.
Rob Postuma	{51 votes}	February 13th, 2005
Trudeau said it best     Pierre Elliot Trudeau said it best, "Government has no business in the bedrooms of the nation." Stated in reference to the abolishment of sodomy laws. This quote is major fuel for the defense of this case as what a Prime Minister states while in office IS essentially government policy. It would not be a far stretch for this to encompass bedroom activities (Sex) across the nation, so long as it remains a private domain.
Claude Gauthier	{4 votes}	February 21st, 2005
Sexual Apathy     Is it just me or has this case been dragging on for years? It seems to me that we're all pretty complacent about this type of activity here in Quebec. From massage parlors to strip joints with their notoriously popular "danse-a-dix", we're simply not fazed by the proliferation of sex here in La belle province. That's not to say that it necessarily makes it right but, hell, as long as this type of activity takes place far from prying eyes, then so be it. It's far too late in the game to curtail these types of establishments and given that the acts that take place therein are consensual, what, if anything, can really be done and perhaps, sadly, does anyone really care anymore?
Mark St Pierre	{6 votes}	February 17th, 2005
Their Business     Whatever consenting adults do behind closed doors should remain their business. Never been to a swingers club because its not my thing. But if this is what some adults want, leave them alone as long as they don't harm anybody. Police should concentrate around schools, where perverts hang around outside school yards so they can show themselves.
Rita Reale	{5 votes}	February 16th, 2005
Swinging Bewtween Need and Greed     It's not necessary for Egale to intervene in the Labaye case -it's akin to comparing apples and oranges. The Montreal swinger's club charged under the "bawdyhouse provision" of the Criminal Code differs in context from the Goliath bath raids. The bath raids could be seen as a borderline infringement of freedom of expression. The raids smothered gay rights to a sub-cultural lifestyle choice -a clear charter rights' violation. A gay couple does not profess to uphold the same moral integrity that is demanded of a traditional married couple, where adultery is considered a sin. Furthermore, the straight couple who decides to swap partners,in the public-commercial-retail domain, violates the societal trust not to corrupt the concept of traditional marriage. On another level, swingers tend to have disposable income and the "bathers"... well, you do the math. An exclusive night club compared to a communal bath -get serious. What was the premise for the raid on the public bath. How did law enforcement know that there would be indescent acts committed. They didn't advertise in the public domain. Journalistically, the Labaye case is old news. Gay marriage is a historical first. Stop pandering to the affluent. It's time to pay attention to the underrepresented.
Heather Lee	{2 votes}	February 16th, 2005
Eyes Wide Shut..........     I had heard that Swingers Clubs were on the rise lately as couples decided that you only live once and sometimes exploring what you don't have in your relationship brings appreciation when you get back into your lover's arms for what you do have. Every year at the Hedomism parties in the Carribean, you take risks by crossing over all kinds of moral lines with alcohol helping inhibitions lower levels of nervousness. Swinger clubs may appear to be a little riskier because of the legality of the operation plus you don't necessarily want your face in the paper while having coffee at the local Tim Horton's because of a police bust. I don't know if gentleman's clubs are becoming less popular and that swinger's clubs and speed dating parties gaining popularity but I sense that people are becoming slightly more desperate for a pieve of lovin' and the regular channels for meeting people (lavalife etc..) are starting to dry up. But as they say~~there's always another fish coming down the channel.....??...or was that there's more fish where that came from....oh hell.....I can't even remember what they say anymore........lol.........
Steve Landry	{20 votes}	February 13th, 2005
Swingers Clubs     Since the beginning of time there have been swinger clubs all over the world and many of these kinds of establishments have been busted. Many police officers are wasting time and money trying to stop these swinger clubs when they should be arresting dangerous Criminals. If people want to have a good time at a swingers club, let them have a good time because life is all about having a good time and if people want to have group sex well let them have it. The police fail once again.
Carmela Sicurella	{8 votes}	February 13th, 2005
Closed Doors = Nobody's business!     Why do people feel the need to impose their beliefs on other people? As far as I am concerned, what I do behind closed doors, or what you do behind you doors, is your business. As long as you aren't harming anyone (but yourself!), and as long as you aren't doing lewd things in public, then why should I care what you do? With all the problems on the Metro, schools, etc... Why are police wasting time, energy, and money, on this?
Eric Wilson	{9 votes}	February 10th, 2005
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alex iglesia		November 26th, 2009

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