The first gay liberation organization in Alberta, Gay Alliance toward Equality (GATE), started as a small group of friends around Michael Roberts, Edmonton's first public gay activist, who became GATE (Edmonton)'s regional coordinator. During the summer of 1971 Roberts attempted to raise the profile of the group by placing a notice in issues of the Georgia Straight, GATE (Edmonton) sponsored drop-ins at the GATE House, a twenty-four-hour information and counselling phone line, a speaker's bureau, and a library.

The group's early activities included lobbying the Alberta government to amend the Alberta Bill of Rights and the Individual's Rights Protection Act to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation and asking candidates about gay rights during the 1972 federal and provincial election campaigns. In mid-1973 Roberts was succeeded as regional coordinator by Don Musbach, and the group began to focus more on social services as opposed to political activity. By October 1973 GATE (Edmonton) had about twenty paid members.