19 Aug A well-deserved honour
Armand Monroe received the John-Banks prize, from the hands of his friend John Banks himself.
In the 1950s, at a time when homosexuality was both a crime and a disease, Armand Monroe succeeded in organizing openly gay public events. Known as “La Monroe”, Armand Monroe hosted female impersonation evenings until the 1980s, most notably at the PJ’s club. He also participated in Montreal’s first Pride March, organized by John Banks in 1979. He has been a pionneer in the affirmation and recognition of homosexual rights, paving the way for today’s gender and sexual diversity. The John-Banks prize is a reward for a life of commitment to LGBTQ2S+ causes. He recently made a donation of text documents, objects, photos and paintings to the Archives gaies du Québec.
Congratulations to “La Monroe”!