Danny Cockerline: Toronto’s Patron Saint of Whores and Hustlers (1960-1995), by Ryan Conrad

Movements and Activism

Organizations

Biography

Work and Economic Life

This exhibit focuses on gay HIV-positive sex worker activist Daniel Charles Cockerline (1960-1995), who was involved in the founding of numerous sex workers’ rights organizations in Toronto, Ontario, from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s. The exhibit highlights his largely underrecognized contributions to the sex workers’ rights movement in Canada, including his production of some of the first HIV-prevention materials by and for sex workers. Published originally on OutHistory in 2025.

1980s

1990s

Bearchell, Chris

Cockerline, Danny

Conrad, Ryan

Hunter, Andrew

Leight, Carol

Overs, Cheryl

Reich, Konnie

Scott, Valerie

Sorfleet, Andrew

Canada

Europe

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