Halifax’s historic lesbian and gay club, The Turret, is being honored in Canada Post’s Places of Pride stamp series. Established in 1976 in the Khyber building, The Turret was one of the first clubs for women in the city’s 2SLGBTQ+ community and quickly became a welcoming space. Robin Metcalfe, a former chairperson of the Gay Alliance for Equality, noted its significance as an inclusive venue that provided a sense of community and empowerment. The club was unique for its ownership by a 2SLGBTQ+ organization during a time when such establishments were often controlled by outside interests. Although The Turret closed in 1982, it later reopened as Rumours. The stamp’s release coincides with the “Take Back the Turret” campaign, which aims to preserve the building’s legacy for future generations.
Why It Matters
The Turret is recognized as a pivotal site in Canadian 2SLGBTQ+ history, representing the struggle for rights and community acceptance in a time of widespread discrimination. Its establishment marked a significant shift in the availability of safe spaces for marginalized groups, allowing them to gather and support one another. The club’s closure and subsequent reopening reflect ongoing challenges in preserving community spaces amid changing ownership and urban development pressures. The Places of Pride series aims to commemorate such important landmarks across the country, highlighting their contributions to the 2SLGBTQ+ rights movement.
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