Pussy Palace Raid

For the song by Lily Allen, see Pussy Palace.

The Pussy Palace Raid occurred on September 14, 2000, when Toronto police raided a lesbian bathhouse known as the "Pussy Palace" during the "2000 Pussies" event. Two undercover female police officers attended and investigated the event prior to the raid. Five plainclothes male police officers then entered and searched the club, including private rooms. There were around 350 women in attendance at the time, many of whom were nude or semi-clad.

No charges were laid that night but weeks later two volunteers were charged with Liquor License Act violations. The charges were dismissed by the Ontario Court Justice in 2002, stating the search was carried out in an unreasonable manner. The women attendees had the right to expect female officers would search the premises under Canada's Charter of Rights which protects people from searches by those of the opposite sex.

The Women's Bathhouse Committee filed a complaint to the Ontario Human Rights Commission in 2001 which was settled with Toronto Police Services Board in 2004. As part of the settlement the Toronto Police Service were required to enhance their efforts to recruit gay officers and adopt a "gender-sensitive" policy.

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