Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium
Encyclopedia
Davie Village
Davie Village is a neighbourhood in the West End of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is the home of the city's gay subculture, and, as such, is often considered a gay village or "gaybourhood". It is centred on Davie Street and roughly includes the area between Burrard and Jervis streets...
/ West End
West End, Vancouver
The West End of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is on the downtown peninsula neighbouring Stanley Park and the areas of Yaletown, Coal Harbour and the downtown financial and central business districts....
of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, a predominantly gay community. The bookstore opened in 1983.
The bookstore is famous for being embroiled in a legal battle with the Canada Border Services Agency
Canada Border Services Agency
The Canada Border Services Agency is a federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for border enforcement, immigration enforcement and customs services....
over the importation of what the agency has labeled "obscene materials". These materials, nearly all dealing with male-male or female-female sexuality, are routinely seized at the border. The same publications, when destined for mainstream booksellers in the country, have often been delivered without delay or question. Glad Day Bookshop
Glad Day Bookshop
Glad Day Bookshop is an independent bookstore in Toronto, Ontario, specializing in LGBT literature. The store is located at 598A Yonge Street near the city's Church and Wellesley neighbourhood.-History:...
, an LGBT bookstore in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, has faced similar difficulties.
Its travails were fictionalized as a subplot of the film Better Than Chocolate
Better Than Chocolate
Better Than Chocolate is a 1999 Canadian romantic comedy movie shot in Vancouver directed by Anne Wheeler.-Plot:Maggie has recently moved out on her own, and has started a relationship with another woman, Kim...
. A feature length documentary film, Little Sister's vs. Big Brother (2002), has also been released about the bookstore.
See also
- Little Sisters Book and Art Emporium v. Canada (Minister of Justice)Little Sisters Book and Art Emporium v. Canada (Minister of Justice)Little Sisters Book and Art Emporium v. Canada [2000] 2 S.C.R. 1120, 2000 SCC 69 is a leading Supreme Court of Canada decision on freedom of expression and equality rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms...
, [2000] 2 S.C.R. 1120 - Spartacus BooksSpartacus BooksSince 1973, Spartacus Books is a non-profit, volunteer and collectively run bookstore and resource centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and only one of its kind in the city. Located right on the edge of Vancouver's Eastside, Spartacus sells new and used books, zines, comics, magazines,...
, another bookstore in Vancouver with a wide "queer lit" section