Pink Blood: Homophobic Violence in Canada

347 Pages·2005·1.637 MB·English

by  Douglas Victor Janoff

PINK BLOOD:
HOMOPHOBIC VIOLENCE IN CANADA
Despite Canada’s reputation as a beacon in the international struggle for
gay rights, homophobia and homophobic violence remain major prob-
lems across the country. Since 1990, hundreds of gay, lesbian, bisexual,
and transgendered people have been assaulted or murdered in Canada,
but so far the phenomenon has been largely ignored in Canadian crimi-
nology texts and other scholarly works.
Pink Blood is the first book to analyse homophobic violence in Canada
on a national scale. Douglas Victor Janoff uses legal records, case studies,
and interviews with victims, activists, and police officers from thirty cities
to convey the devastating impact this violence has had on queer Canadi-
ans and on the communities they inhabit. Janoff critically examines
common public perceptions and police attitudes and practices, as well as
hate crime legislation and policies that, despite good intentions, are often
powerless to counteract this serious and complex social problem.
Drawing from a wide range of scholarship in law, criminology, sociol-
ogy, psychology, philosophy, and social work, Pink Blood is a ground-
breaking work from a respected researcher and community activist.
douglas victor janoff is a policy adviser for the Government of
Canada.
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DOUGLAS VICTOR JANOFF
PINK BLOOD
Homophobic Violence in
Canada
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PRESS
Toronto Buffalo London
www.utppublishing.com
© University of Toronto Press Incorporated 2005
Toronto Buffalo London
Printed in Canada
ISBN 0-8020-8781-7 (cloth)
ISBN 0-8020-8570-9 (paper)
Printed on acid-free paper
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Janoff, Douglas, 1958–
Pink blood : homophobic violence in Canada / Douglas Victor Janoff.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8020-8781-7 (bound). ISBN 0-8020-8570-9 (pbk.)
1. Gays – Crimes against – Canada. 2. Homophobia – Canada. I. Title.
(cid:0) (cid:0)
HV6250.4.H66J36 2005 362.88 086 640971 C2004-906714-1
University of Toronto Press acknowledges the financial assistance to
its publishing program of the Canada Council for the Arts and the
Ontario Arts Council.
University of Toronto Press acknowledges the financial support for
its publishing activities of the Government of Canada through the
Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP).
I can’t believe the things I hear
Falling from the atmosphere
Sexual atrocities are happening right over me
And I can’t sleep.
Jann Arden
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Contents
acknowledgments ix
necrology xi
Introduction 1
1 Methodology and the Media: Reading between the Lines 13
2 Theories of Homophobia: Why Do They Want to Hurt Us? 35
3 The Horror of Homophobic Violence 65
4 Law, Homophobia, and Violence: Legislating against Hate 105
5 Homo-cide: Getting Away with It? 130
6 Homophobia, Violence, and Policing in Canada 158
7 Urban Cowboys and Rural Rednecks: Community Resistance
to Homophobic Violence 199
Conclusion 244
notes 255
selected bibliography 319
index 325
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Acknowledgments
Since 1995, an incalculable number of people have assisted me in this
project: victims, community members, activists, academics, researchers,
and criminal justice officials provided me with the data that are at the
heart of this book. Many friends and family members provided me with
invaluable support over the years it took to research and write this book.
Among the many, I would like to thank Karen Baldwin, Peter Bartlett,
Ross Boutilier, Tracey Brown, Catherine Chase, Melvin Chuck, Vince
Connors, Brian Coutts, Joe Crowell, Dean Cummer, Margaret Denike,
Bob Fuguere, Anita Harper, Richard Hudler, Donna Huen, Martha
Johnson, Randall Lampreau, Stephen Lock, John Lowman, Bruce
MacDougall, Maureen Medved, Claudine Metcalfe, John Mitchell, Jane
Mulkewich, Mark O’Neill, Michael Polowich, Lewis Poteet, Brian Preston,
Bruce Ryder, Sandy Scott, Theressa Seto, David Sorlie, Debbie and Peter
Smith, Scott Thompson, Lorna and Elmo Townsend, and Donna Wilson.
I would especially like to thank Karlene Faith – activist, author, teacher,
and friend.