This is the text of a talk, From Brothels and the Pill, to HIV and Beyond: A Partial History Of Sexual Health In Nova Scotia delivered on June 21, 2006.
Who the talk was given by is not listed here and as of March, 2021 is not known.
Throughout history, sex has been caught up in Gender. Sexuality. Reproduction. Education. Law. Religion. Pleasure. Violence. Commerce. Culture. Politics.
But what about health?
We have wrestled with sex issues forever, and coming to grips with the health implications of sex and sexuality is an ongoing struggle. The history of sexual health in Nova Scotia is an interesting, sometimes entertaining, frequently infuriating series of events and non-events that have, through time, created the sexual health climate that exists here today.
As our awareness of and attitudes toward sexual health evolve within the province, so too are the Planned Parenthood offices evolving in our communities.
All seven Planned Parenthood offices across Nova Scotia have dropped the "Planned Parenthood" part of their names and adopted a variation of the term "Sexual Health Centre" in their respective communities. In this way, people of all ages, cultures, beliefs and lifestyles will know that these offices are there to help them with their sexual health needs.
As the province's Sexual Health Centres look forward to continuing to serve and grow with their communities, it is interesting to look back at how sexual health issues have been both addressed and ignored in Nova Scotia since the start of recorded history.
Pre-20th Century
- The Industrial Revolution begins in Britain and spreads throughout Western Europe and North America, bringing important developments in contraceptive health including the condom, the diaphragm and the cervical cap. (PP history)
- 1800s - Canadian sex trade is organized primarily around brothels. Halifax's brothels, situated near the docks, provide gambling in addition to sex and alcohol and are known to be some of the most financially successful houses in the first half of the 19th century. (www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com)
- 1851 - Nova Scotia's first abortion law is introduced, making a woman liable to prosecution for attempting to abort her fetus herself. (Mitchinson)
- 1869 - The Canadian Parliament passes a law making abortions illegal, with the penalty of life imprisonment. (C by C)
- 1882 - Famous gay author OscarWilde visits Halifax to deliver one of three lectures as part of his North American tour, The House and the Decorative Arts. He stays at the WaverleyInn near Barrington and Cogswell Street. (Beazley)
- 1884 - The Canada Medical and Surgical Journal reports that a Mrs. O'Connor, a Halifax widow of "comfortable circumstances," had solicited abortion services from Dr. Archibald Lawrence - a prominent member of the local medical profession and medical lecturer in the Dalhousie School of Medicine. O'Connor died from infection but implicated Lawrence before she died. He fled the city to avoid being charged. (Mitchinson)
- 1892 - Under Canada's first Criminal Code, the Canadian Parliament prohibits the dissemination of information about birth control. (C by C)
- 1896 - Most doctors of the day see masturbation as unnatural and the root of related disease. Indeed, a Canadian Practitioner contributor accuses women of using cycling as "a means of gratifying unholy and bestial desire." (Mitchinson)
- A Halifax newspaper, the Acadian Recorder, advertises The Married Woman's Private Medical Companion, which outlines birth control information and was available for sale at R.G. Fraser's drug store on Granville Street. (Mitchinson)
- Canadian Parliament claims that birth control is contributing to family breakdown. (PP history)
- Doctors believe masturbation leads to uncontrolled nocturnal emissions, nervous exhaustion, idiocy, imbecility and insanity - in men. In women, doctors believe it leads to falling womb, irregular and painful menstruation, painful childbirth, nervous and hysterical affections, deafness, loss of strength and memory, paralysis, imbecility and insanity. (Mitchinson)
- Underground birth control measures are gaining momentum but birth control methods remain inaccessible to the majority of Canadian women. (PP history)
1900-1950
- Early 1920s - Scientific developments lead to mass production of rubber latex condoms, making contraception far more accessible to working-class families than the more expensive sheepskin varieties previously available. (Dr. Todd McCallum, Dalhousie University)
- Late 1920s - 1940s - The Ideal Maternity Home offers services for unwed mothers and married couples in East Chester, Nova Scotia. It gains international notoriety for a number of crimes, including black market adoptions to the U.S. and the infamous "Butterbox Babies" - unmarketable infants who were starved to death and buried or burned in small wooden grocery boxes. (www.canadiancrc.com)
- 1932 - Dr. Elizabeth Bagshaw becomes medical director of Canada's first (illegal) family planning clinic; she was later awarded the Order of Canada. (www.swc-cfc.gc.ca)
1950s
- The issue of birth control remains controversial but many drug stores are selling condoms "under the counter." (C by C)
- Family planning services become available, but only to couples that can afford it. (C by C)
1960s
- Women slowly start gaining more access to birth control as well as sexual health and family planning services and information. Though these services could not be legally advertised until 1969, the Grace Maternity Hospital opens a contraception clinic in 1964 for "teaching purposes." (Dr. PamBrown)
- 1966 - Nearly 50 million contraceptives are purchased in Canada. (C by C)
- 1967 - Dr. Henry Morgentaler appears before the Federal Standing Committee on Health and Welfare, urging Ottawa to repeal its abortion legislation. (C by C)
- 1968 - Students at McGill? University publish a birth control handbook. The Dalhousie Student Union purchases 2,000 copies but is blocked from distributing it in Shirreff Hall, then a female residence, for fear it will lead to promiscuity. The booklet is, however, freely available in Howe Hall, the male residence. (Dr. Todd McCallum?, Dalhousie)
- 1969
- Birth control in Canada becomes a constitutional right. (C by C)
- Federal Liberal government institutes sweeping reforms to Canada's criminal law. Pierre Trudeau, then-Justice Minister, stresses the importance of individual freedom in the context of sexuality when he says "I think the view we take here is that there's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation." This change means the Canadian government would no longer imprison men for the "crime" of "homosexuality". (mapleleafweb.com)
1970s
- 1970
- The Metro Area Family Planning Association is established in Halifax and opens its doors in 1971 as a referral and information center.
- Dalhousie University offers a "Human Sexuality" course, which is still taught each year to students across all faculties. (Beazley)
- 1972
- Canada's Vagrancy law is repealed: Under this law, a woman had to be accountable for her presence on the street or risk being prosecuted as a "common" prostitute. (www.justice.gc.ca)
- As part of his Master Degree Thesis in Health Education (Dalhousie University, 1972), Nova Scotia teacher Richard Beazley writes a unit on human sexuality for a junior high school curriculum guide. It is used in Nova Scotia's junior high schools for five years and includes in-service training for teachers. (Beazley)
- The Metro Family Planning Association establishes mobile clinics in areas outside Halifax to serve the growing need for information, education and clinic services. These clinics are eventually phased out due to lack of patients.
- 1973 - Dr. William Morse and Jean Morse, MSW opened their sex therapy practice in Paradise, NS after training a year with Masters and Johnson (Dr. Pam Brown)
- 1974
- The Metro Family Planning Association opens the first community-based sexual health clinic in the Maritimes with Dr. Pam Brown and Dr. MargaretCasey? offering pap tests, birth control pills and other services with North End Community Health. (Dr. Pam Brown)
- The Canadian Abortion Rights Action League (CARAL) is established. (Pro Choice Action Network)
- In response to requests from staff, parents and students, reproductive rights activist Leslie Shaw and Dr. Pam Brown speaks on birth control at Halifax schools. (Leslie Shaw/Dr. Pam Brown)
- 1977 - Federally funded Badgley Report is published, stating that the ability to obtain an abortion is "in practice illusory for many Canadian women." The Badgley Report leads to calls for abortion law reform. (www.caral.ca)
- 1978
- Canada's new Immigration Act removes homosexuals from the list of inadmissible classes. (www.CBC.ca)
- The Pink Triangle Press, a journal of gay liberation news and opinion, is charged with "distribution of obscene material" (www.CBC.ca)
- 1979 - Family Planning Resource Team founded in Sydney, Cape Breton. Later renamed Planned Parenthood Cape Breton.
1980s
- 1980 - Halifax gay community hosts parties to teach members about safer sex. (Beazley)
- 1981
- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) epidemic begins, however, the term isn't established until 1982, by the Centres for Disease Control in the U.S. in 1982. (Kaiser Family Foundation)
- Cumberland County Family Planning opens its doors in Amherst. Later renamed Planned Parenthood Cumberland County.
- 1982 - The first case of AIDS is diagnosed in Canada. (www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/28902.html)
- 1983
- The AIDS virus is discovered in the United States and France.
- Amendments are made to the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit sexual harassment and discrimination based on pregnancy and marital status. (www.swc-cfc.gc.ca)
- The Avalon Sexual Assault Centre is established, providing public education, a crisis line and services to sexual assault victims in Halifax.
- 1986
- Planned Parenthood Pictou County opens its doors in New Glasgow.
- Upon her death, Halifax's legendary Madame Ada (McCallum?) is honoured by a moment of silence at Province House. From the time of WWII, she ran an internationally-renowned brothel and call-girl business, and was later featured in a Lulu Keating documentary that aired nationally on the History Channel.
- The federal government publishes a paper entitled "Toward Equality," in which it promises to take steps to ensure that "sexual orientation is a prohibited ground of discrimination."
- 1987
- The Elizabeth Fry Society establishes Stepping Stone as an outreach organization for men and women involved in, or at risk of being involved in, the sex trade. The only organization of its kind in Atlantic Canada, it distributes condoms and offers health and referral information, peer counseling, an emergency relocation service, "bad trick lists," a drop-in resource centre and court support.
- EricSmith is forced from his teaching position in Cape Sable Island, Shelburne County, after testing positive for HIV. Parents protest his promised reinstatement so he's reassigned to other posts, such as the province's first AIDS task force and curriculum development. In 1991, he abandons all hope of teaching again, continuing his career as an AIDS educator and human rights campaigner.
- 1988
- The Supreme Court of Canada strikes down Canada's abortion law, ruling it is unconstitutional. (C by C)
- The General Council of the United Church of Canada votes to permit ordination of gay and lesbian candidates for the ministry.
- Planned Parenthood Bridgewater opens its doors. Later changes its name to Planned Parenthood Lunenburg County.
- 1989
- Dr. Henry Morgentaler announces his plans to open an abortion clinic in Halifax, after Nova Scotia's provincial government passes a law prohibiting abortions. (Pro Choice)
- The Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies is struck to "inquire into and report upon current and potential medical and scientific developments related to new reproductive technologies, considering in particular their social, ethical, health, research, legal and economic implications and the public interest, and recommend what policies and safeguards should be applied."
- Nova Scotia native Richard Beazley co-directs the first Canada Youth and AIDS study along with Dr. Wendy Warren, examining the sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of Canadian youth. The study was done under the guidance of Dr. Alan King of Queen's University and its findings were groundbreaking, influential and controversial.
- Nova Scotia junior high and high schools receive Professional Development and Relationship (PDR) and Career Life Management (CLM) classes.
1990s
- Services offered by Planned Parenthood Metro Clinic are still met with debate but have growing support in the community. (PP history)
- 1990
- The House of Commons passes Bill C-43, which declares abortion a crime punishable by up to two years in prison unless a physician determins that the pregnancy threatens the pregnant woman's health. It is narrowly defeated by a tied vote in the Senate the following year - a very rare occurence. (www.cbctrust.com)
- The Medical Services Act (under which Dr. Morgentaler had been charged for performing abortions in a clinic) of no force and effect, ruling Nova Scotia had no jurisdiction to create criminal laws regarding abortion. It was also held that the Act's primary purpose was to keep abortion clinics out of Nova Scotia (99 N.S.9. (2D) 293)
- 1991 - Nova Scotia adds "sexual orientation" to its human rights legislation (www.caw.ca/whatwedo/pride/pridehistory.asp)
- 1992 - Toronto police bust a nationwide pimping ring, arresting seven Halifax pimps for luring young teenage girls into the sex trade and moving them to other cities. A week later, the Halifax Police Department and RCMP create a joint task force on juvenile prostitution, assigning a dozen investigators to the issue. Its work (which continues today, though greatly downsized) leads to dozens of pimping convictions and helps a number of girls off the streets.
- 1993
- The Metro Family Planning Association changes its name to Planned Parenthood Metro Clinic (PPMC), thus becoming an affiliate of the Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada. (PPMC History)
- Planned Parenthood Nova Scotia creates the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth Project. The project later becomes an independent group with a mission to make Nova Scotia a safer place for lesbian, gay and bisexual youth. (PP history)
- The Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies releases its final report.
- From 1993 to 2002, Nova Scotia's teenage pregnancy rates fall to 28.1 per 1,000 from 45.2 per 1,000, a decrease of 37.8 per cent. In Canada overall, rates fall by 29.8 per cent in the same period. (Langille)
- Former youth counselor Patrick MacDougal? is convicted of sexual assault on the job at Shelburne Youth Centre. Subsequently, two other youth counselors from the Nova Scotia School for Girls in Truro are also convicted of sex crimes and the province pays out nearly $30 million in abuse claim settlements to former residents of both centres. (Chronicle Herald)
- 1994
- Anonymous HIV testing is offered at Planned Parenthood Metro Clinic. (PP history)
- The Federal Court of Canada upholds Master Seaman SimonThwaites' complaint of wrongful dismissal due to discrimination by the Canadian Armed Forces in Halifax. Thwaites had been honorably discharged after introduction of a new (short-lived) guideline that personnel with HIV symptoms were deemed unfit for military service.
- 1995
- Planned Parenthood Nova Scotia initiates a research project to talk to youth about their sexuality and their needs to achieve sexual health. From this project, a report entitled "Just Loosen Up and Start Talking" was produced and this report was the catalyst for the formation of the Nova Scotia Roundtable on Youth Sexual Health. (PP history)
- The Ontario Court of Appeal finds that the crime of anal intercourse for those under 18 is of no force as it discriminated on the basis of age and sexual orientation. It's still a crime in Nova Scotia. (www.canlii.org)
- RCMP charge former Premier Gerald Regan with numerous sexual offences based on allegations dating from 1956 to 1969. He is acquitted at trial, only to face more charges in 1999 that are later dropped.
- 1999 - Pfizer Canada starts shipping Viagra(tm) to Nova Scotia pharmacies for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
2000s
- Sexual issues become more prominent in mainstream media.
- 2000
- Bill C-23 gives same-sex couples the same tax and social benefits as heterosexuals in common-law relationships. (CBC.ca)
- Nova Scotia enacts Canada's first system of Registered Domestic Partnerships, which provides for spousal maintenance regardless of whether the couple is same or opposite sex. (www.gov.ns.ca)
- Planned Parenthood Sheet Harbour opens its doors.
- Filipino and Canadian representatives from government, law enforcement, academia and non-governmental organizations meet in Halifax as part of a five-year collaborative international project to examine social issues related to prostitution. Funding is provided by the Canadian International Development Agency and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. (www.smu.ca)
- 2001 - Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program is started in the HRM, serving sexual assault victims between ages 14 and up. Trained nurses gather forensic evidence and offer care to individuals who have been assaulted (PM)
- 2003 - At is General Council meeting in Wolfville, the United Church of Canada votes to endorse same-sex marriages, giving each pastoral charge the choice whether or not to offer this service. (CBC online)
- 2004
- The Nova Scotia Supreme Court rules that banning same-sex marriages is unconstitutional, making Nova Scotia the first Atlantic province to allow them.
- SEX?-A Healthy Sexuality Resource is developed by the NS Departments of Health, Health Promotion, and Education and distributed in schools. Not all NS schools would distribute the book.
- 2005
- Emergency contraception is available behind pharmacy counters without a doctor's prescription across Canada. (PP history)
- After a majority vote, Bill C-38 makes Canada the third country in the world to recognize same-sex marriages.
- Planned Parenthood of Yarmouth County opens in Yarmouth.
- 2006
- In anticipation of the 2006 International AIDS conference, Canada changes its short-term visa requirements so applicants no longer have to reveal their HIV-positive status. (www.aidslaw.ca)
- May 10, 2006 - The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission finds Halifax teacher LindsayWillow was discriminated against on the basis of perceived sexual orientation, awarding her more than $27,000 in damages. Her principal and a fellow teacher had falsely accused her of inappropriate behavior with a female student and the allegations affected her health and her career prospects.
- May 17, 2006 - Threatened with losing its liquor license, Dartmouth's new Sensations Cabaret strip club stays in business by getting dancers to peel down to pasties and g-strings rather than full nudity. Neighbourhood opposition to the club continues. (www.cbc.ca/ns)
- May 31, 2006 - A new workforce survey from the Halifax Regional School Board asks all teachers to list their sexual orientation, apparently as a means of measuring diversity. (The Canadian Press)
- June 15, 2006 - The province reaches a $7.5-million settlement with 79 former employees who were wrongfully accused of assault and sexual assault at the now-closed Shelburne Youth Centre and Nova Scotia School for Girls in Truro. In total, RCMP have exonerated more than 600 youth centre workers who were accused of abuse. (The Chronicle Herald)
- June 21, 2006 - Planned Parenthood Nova Scotia changes its name to the Nova Scotia Association for Sexual Health to better reflect the diversity of services offered by its seven member offices and their inclusive approach to serving every member of their communities.
Sources
- Brown, Dr. Pam
- Beazley, Dr.Richard
- Canadian Children's Rights Council - www.canadiancrc.com/Butterbox_babies.htm
- Catano, Jan
- cbctrust.com/
- "C by C" = Childbirth by Choice Trust at http://www.cbctrust.com/
- cbc.ca/news/background/samesexrights/timeline_canada.html
- Chronicle Herald/Mail Star
- cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/28902.html
- Kaiser Family Foundation - www.kff.org/hivaids/timeline/
- Langille, Donald B., MD, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University: letter to the Halifax Chronicle Herald Teenage Pregnancy in Nova Scotia: What Are We Doing Right?, 2006
- McCallum?, Dr. Todd, Dalhousie University professor
- Melanson, Patti (PM) Phoenix Youth Services
- Mitchinson, Wendy: The Nature of Their Bodies: Women and Their Doctors in Victorian Canada, University of Toronto Press, 1991.
- Padfield, Carla - research assistant to Jocelyn Downey, Director - Health Law Institute, Dalhousie University
- Planned Parenthood History, no date.
- prochoiceactionnetwork-canada.org/abortioninfo/history.shtml
- Shaw, Leslie
- Sutherland, Dr. David - historian
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