Joe has been with Le Mystique since the beginning.
He became a hero when the police raided Truxx
On the night of his birthday in 1978.
It was the biggest reported gay raid in Canada,
With 154 customers and staff taken into police custody.

Although he was urged to plead guilty to running a bawdy house
(just a fine and a slap on the...well you know...the wrist)
...Joe decided to fight it out.
Not one customer arrested that night had to pay a fine
Or has a police record because of this raid.

This untoward police action was the flint
Which ignited the demonstration held the next night.
Less than 24 hours
After the police had terrorised the clients of the whole building
With tommy guns and blunt questions...
Thousands of gays swarmed the center of town
And stopped traffic at the peak hours of a Saturday night.
The support for Joe and his customers
Was the most impressive manifestation
Of gay solidarity until then.

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