On October 31st 1977, the lesbian and gay community in Toronto organized “Operation Jack-O-Lantern”: patrol teams consisting of community members, lawyers, and first-aiders. These patrols were formed in response to the lack of protection from the Toronto Police on every Halloween, when the gay community was faced with queerbashing and organized homophobic protests.
Protestors would gather across the street of the St. Charles Tavern and hurl insults and eggs at gays celebrating festivities. Operation Jack-O-Lantern was organized by GATE (Gay Alliance Towards Equality) and MCC Toronto. When concerns about Halloween queerbashing was raised with the Toronto Police, the response of the police was advising people to not go out on Halloween night.
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