Why this image matters
A memory from my youth and a reminder of a historical bar that no longer exists today.
Photography
Le Mystique
An image driven by signage, nightlife atmosphere, and the mystery of urban memory.
Why
Story
The story behind it
I took this picture when I was brought to this bar when I was 18. I was invited by my then boyfriend Gerard Malcolm because he was going to DJ there on the upcoming Friday night. He got the gig because of his roommate Steven Wells, an older man who had a heart of gold. My friends and I ended up calling him Big Mama. He is the one who told me about the impressive history of this place.
History
History / context
The Original Heart of the "Gay Ghetto" The Stanley Complex was the epicenter of what was known at the time as the "Gay Ghetto." Before the community migrated east, 1424–1428 Stanley Street served as the first sustainable home for Montreal’s gay nightlife. It wasn't until the late 1970s and early 1980s that the Gay Village moved to its current location on Sainte-Catherine Street East (stretching between the Berri-UQAM and Papineau metro stations). The Stanley Complex remains the primary historical ancestor of today's Village. Important Facts & Timeline 1972–2009: Le Mystique (The Anchor) The first sustainable gay bar in downtown Montreal. It served as the social heart of the "Gay Ghetto" for nearly four decades. 1977: The Truxx Raid (The Turning Point) A massive police raid resulting in 146 arrests. This sparked the civil rights movement that led to sexual orientation being protected under the Quebec Charter of Rights. 1978: Savaggio Trial The owner of Truxx faced "house of debauchery" charges, a landmark case that highlighted the criminalization of homosexuality in that era. 1979: Oxygen Shooting A violent incident involving five injuries that briefly marked a period of instability in the downtown nightlife sector. 1980–1983: Ice Club (The Punk Era) Founded by Pyer Desrochers. It transformed the building into a hub for New Wave and Post-Punk, hosting a subculture of punks and artists. 1982: Court of Appeal Ruling A historic judgment that legally formalized the tensions between the state and sexual freedoms in pre-AIDS Quebec. 1985–1999: The Sphinx (Goth/Industrial Era) The building’s second floor became a "club-refuge" for the Goth and Darkwave scenes, eventually evolving into an early hub for Electronic Body Music (EBM). 2009: The End of an Era The final closure of Le Mystique, ending the building’s 37-year run as a primary LGBTQ+ and counter-cultural landmark. The Geographical Shift The "Gay Ghetto" eventually moved from the Stanley Street area in the West End to its current location in the East End (the Village) between Berri and Papineau.