Take One (Jul 1978)

If. you have ever subscribed They have the names of all the subscribers to The Body Politic. They have the names of people who used to be subscribers — but let their subscription lapse. They have copies of manuscripts for future publication. They have letters to the editor. They have two office rubber stamps. They have the mail that was in the out-tray on December 30, 1977 — the day five officers of the Toronto Police and the Ontario Provincial Police raided the office of The Body Politic and left with 12 shipping crates of material. Why? They have said that the material will be used as evidence to support two charges which have been laid against the paper. Both charges relate to allegations concerning the distribution of “‘obscene’’ material. Rubber stamps. Letters to the editor. The names and addresses of anyone who subscribed to The Body Politic over the last few years. Worried? So are we. So are a lot of other people. *‘What the police did at The Body Politic last December would cause a national scandal if it occurred at a ‘recognized’ publication.’’ — The Edmonton Journal, lead editorial, February 27, 1978. “A blatant attempt at oldfashioned state censorship has been depressing us lately. ... We agree with TBP lawyer Clayton Ruby that the raid was illegal in its scope and a deliberate attempt to shut down a Canadian newspaper.’’ — Books in Canada, “‘Notes and Comments,’’ February, 1978. “This looks like an attempt to cripple or close down the paper before it has been convicted of anything... It’s a precedent that threatens freedom of the press...’’ — Robert Nielsen, The Toronto Star, March 29, 1978. “The Canadian Civil Liberties Association is very concerned about the rather substantial search and seizure ... at the offices of The Body Politic ...”> —Alan Boravoy, in a letter to the Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police, January 5, 1978. The Body Politic is Canada’s national gay newsmagazine. It has been publishing regularly for more than six years. The raid prompted protest demonstrations in Toronto, Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Melbourne, London and Copenhagen. It drew letters of condemnation from gay people the world over, and from individuals in publishing, broadcasting and politics. And it concerns you. The ‘climate’ in Canada is changing. Or being made to change. And what _ the authorities describe as efforts to protect the citizenry begin to resemble infringements on some pretty basic civil liberties. It started with The Body Politic. It’s moved on to Pretty Baby — the awardwinning movie that can’t be shown in Ontario because the Board of Censors has banned it. And it continues through the almost daily revelations of police crimes — crimes, according to_ sociologist Richard Henshel, ‘‘for which ordinary citizens go to prison.”’ Names on a subscription list have nothing to do with obscenity charges — whatever their merits. It is a clear attempt to intimidate subscribers to a magazine whose politics don’t quite meet the tastes of the present provincial government. It began with The Body Politic. There’s no reason why it couldn’t happen to the magazine you’re reading now. Your help is needed. The publishers of TBP are bidding to test the legality of the search warrant in the Supreme Court of Canada. That’s an expensive battle ground. The trial on the actual obscenity charges is also expected to be long and costly. The Body Politic Free the Press Fund has been set up to bring the issue before the public, and to raise the money that will be needed. Lawyer Lynn King has agreed to administer the fund in trust. All donations can be used only for the legal defence — none can go to cover operating expenses of The Body Politic. Your donation would be greatly appreciated. By us, by the people at The Body Politic, and by all people who still believe in the freedom to think for themselves. Make cheques payable to: Lynn King in trust for The Body Politic. Mail to: Cornish, King, Sachs and Waldman, Ill Richmond St. W., Suite 320, Toronto, ON, MSH 3N6. THE BODY POLITIC FREE THE PRESS FUND For further information, write to Tim McCaskell, Secretary c/o Box 7289, Stn A, Toronto, ON, MSW 1X9.