Artifact 2: Misfortune - 'Tables Turn' Article

This is a cropped section of an article called “Tables Turn” from Edmonton-based gay magazine, Roughnecks. Once again, we see Michael Phair rear his head and try to fight back against the devastation his community was facing—this time, by writing on behalf of the Privacy Defence Committee. As Phair notes, this fight did not come without its discouraging moments, including many instances of the judge handing down guilty verdicts and, in response, many of those not yet tried in the court changing their pleas to “guilty,” to avoid going through trial. Especially disappointing was the conduct of the Crown prosecutor, Morrey Ferries, who called those who frequented Pisces “depraved,” and “pathetic individuals,” who “rut like animals.” Despite the humiliation and misfortune faced by the found-ins of Pisces Health Spa, Michael Phair kept his hopes high, praising the efforts made to help pay the legal fees and encouraging readers to continue to donate or help in other ways.

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Artifact Citation: Phair, Michael. “Tables Turn.” Roughnecks, July 25, 1982. https://archive.org/details/roughnecksvol3no33unse/mode/1up.

Caption Bibliography:

Edmonton Journal. “Crown calls Pisces place for ‘depraved.’” July 31, 1981. https://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/july-31-1981-page-20-129/docview/2401253081/se-2?accountid=14474.