Glossary
Brunswick Four
The Brunswick Four were four lesbians arrested in Toronto in 1974 after performing a pro-lesbian song at a pub, an incident that became a rallying point for Canadian gay rights.
The Brunswick Four were four lesbians: Adrienne Rosen (then Potts), Pat Murphy, Sue Wells, and Lamar Van Dyke (then Heather Byers). On January 5, 1974, they sang an original song, "I Enjoy Being a Dyke," during an open-mic night at the Brunswick Tavern in Toronto. Staff ejected them, and when they protested, police arrested them; several reported mistreatment in custody. Their refusal to stay quiet and the ensuing court fight turned the incident into a landmark moment for lesbian visibility and gay rights organizing in Canada. The case is remembered as an early flashpoint that galvanized Toronto's queer community and is still commemorated in Canadian LGBTQ+ history.
Sources
Learn more: thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-brunswick-four