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Prof Tom Hooper discusses the 1981 Toronto bathhouse raids on an episode of Global News’ What Happened to….?

Prof Tom Hooper discusses the 1981 Toronto bathhouse raids on an episode of Global News’ What Happened to….?

Left to Right: Murray Rankin, Ron Rosenes, Tom Hooper, Gary Kinsman
Left to Right: Murray Rankin, Ron Rosenes, Tom Hooper, Gary Kinsman.

On February 5, 1981, Toronto Police launched Operation Soap. Officers ambushed four Toronto bathhouses in a series of coordinated raids. The raids followed a six-month investigation, which led to almost 300 patrons being arrested on the street.

Murray Rankin was an MP. Ron Rosenes was arrested and convicted in the 1981 bathhouse raids. Professor Tom Hooper is a historian of the bathhouse raids and Gary Kinsman was a queer activist at the time of the bathhouse raids.

Read full story on Globalnews.ca