Rise Up! Feminist Digital Archive
The Pussy Palace Raid took place on September 14th, 2000 during the “2000 Pussies” event, organized by the Toronto Women’s Bathhouse Committee at Club Toronto. Five undercover police officers entered the club, and requested an inspection of the premises. Charges were laid against members of the committee and event volunteers in October. Protests by the Women’s Bathhouse Committee and the queer community emerged briefly after the raid, including a march down to the Toronto Police headquarters.
The male officers searched private rooms in the club, checking for liquor license violations. No warning was issued to approximately 350 attendees, many of whom were nude, and officers threatened obstruction charges if women warned others in parts of the club that were not yet raided. The raid was a violation of queer women and trans mens’ privacy, disguised as a liquor license check. Two committee volunteer members were charged with liquor license violations with legal fees amounting to $60,000. This resulted in fundraising and protest organizing initiatives on behalf of the Women’s Bath House Defense Fund to cover legal fees.
