On This Day in Queerstory: progressive reform in Canada

May 7th is a day that balances the intellectual grit of the struggle with the high-voltage electricity of the underground. Today, we look at a legal milestone that reshaped a nation and the birth of a woman who turned queer subversion into an art form.

1945: The Birth of Angela Carter—The Queen of Subversive Desire

Born on this day in Eastbourne, England, Angela Carter was the high priestess of magical realism and gender deconstruction. While her work is often categorized as feminist, its “queer-coding” is undeniable. In novels like The Passion of New Eve, Carter explored gender reassignment and the performative nature of femininity long before “gender queer” was a household term. She was the intellectual godmother to the drag and trans movements, teaching us that “womanhood” is often a costume worn with varying degrees of irony.

1999: Canada Redefines “Family”

On May 7, 1999, the Supreme Court of Canada handed down a landmark ruling in the case of M. v. H. The court ruled that same-sex couples must have the same rights as opposite-sex common-law couples. This wasn’t just a win for insurance benefits; it was a legal admission that queer love had the same social “weight” as straight love. This ruling was the final domino to fall before Canada moved toward full marriage equality in 2005, proving that the North was leading the charge in human dignity.

1983: The Release of The Hunger

In early May 1983, Tony Scott’s chic vampire flick The Hunger hit theaters. Starring David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve, the film featured an erotic lesbian encounter that became a foundational text for “Lesbian Chic.” It bypassed the tawdry “exploitation” vibes of earlier decades, offering instead a high-fashion, adult exploration of eternal desire. It remains a cult classic for those who prefer their queer cinema with a touch of gothic lace and a lot of Bauhaus.