In 1960, the mechanic was convicted of 18 counts of "gross indecency" and spent four years in prison. In 1965, he was convicted of four additional counts of "gross indecency" for having consensual sex with other men. 

 

He was examined by two psychiatrists who found him to be an intelligent and affable man. However, they also concluded that he would likely attempt to have gay sex again if freed. The state had Klippert declared a "dangerous sex offender" who needed to be held behind bars to prevent him from re-offending. He was the first, and last, Canadian to receive a life sentence just for being gay.

 

The Supreme Court of Canada upheld the designation in a 3-to-2 ruling in 1967, causing a furor in Parliament and the press. A month later, then-justice minister Pierre Trudeau introduced legislation that decriminalized consensual sex between two men.

 

“There’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation,” he famously told reporters at the time, echoing a Globe and Mail editorial of the week before.  
 

Klippert was not released until 1972. Now Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Pierre's son, is pushing to get  him an official pardon. Sadly, Klippert died in 1996 at the age of 69 so will receive the pardon posthumously.

 

“Klippert’s case was instrumental in the government’s decision to decriminalise homosexual acts between consenting adults,” Trudeau said in statement on Sunday. “As Canadians, we know that protecting and promoting fundamental human rights must be an imperative for governments and individuals alike.

 

“This includes gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation… but the fight to end discrimination is not over and a lot of hard work remains."

 

Trudeau said that similar cases will be reviewed to ensure others deserving of a pardon receive one as well.

 

Previous governments could have and should have done this, but it's nice to see that someone is willing to stand up and finally do the right thing.

 

Trudeau to urge pardon for man deemed a dangerous sex offender for being gay in 1960s [The Globe and Mail]