Hundreds mourn the death of gay activist in Halifax

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Over 500 people gathered at Gottingen Street in Halifax Tuesday night to mourn the death of Raymond Taavel. The 49-year-old was famous for his efforts to win rights for gay community and to speak for their electoral reform. Taavel was found soaking in blood on the street early Tuesday morning.

Const. Brian Palmeter said: “We are exploring all possibilities with regards to motives.”

According to the police, witnesses saw a few men fighting on the street and screaming out “faggot” to Taavel and another person. When the police arrived, they only found Taavel beaten to death.

Apparently, Taavel was trying to end a bar fight, when Taavel died, the other men flew away. Taavel’s death ignited the gay community in Halifax and surrounding areas.

“He was the type of guy who would stand up to people and he wouldn’t take homophobia from anyone,” Taavel’s close friend, Randall Perry, said. “If someone was being hassled and he was there, he would jump in and try to use it as a teachable moment. He was stubborn as hell and I admired him for it.”

Taavel was also the former chair of the city’s Gay Pride Week and former editor of the LBGT magazine Wayves. Hundreds shed tears on Gottingen Street in the memory of the community activist.

“There are red and misted eyes everywhere. People are shaking their heads. Chins and jaws shake, trying not to cry. The vigil hasn’t even begun. People are passing out small candles to light,” wrote Simon Thibault, who attended the vigil, in Xtra, a Canadian LBGT newspaper.

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