Stories have an extraordinary ability to unite us within our communities, bridging gaps and fostering understanding. When we share narratives, we cultivate a deeper sense of belonging, which is especially vital for minority groups whose experiences can be marginalized.
For many 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, the holiday season can be a time of isolation and disconnection from family and friends. One powerful way to combat this alienation is by immersing ourselves in the rich and inspiring stories of our past. Delving into queer history not only enriches our understanding of previous generations, but also provides essential context for our current lives and identities—and generates strategies for dealing with our contemporary foes!
Our Past Matters: Stories of Gay Calgary, a collection of stories that highlights the voices and experiences of Calgary’s 2SLGBTQ+ community, reached #1 on the Calgary Herald bestseller list in 2019 and has continued to resonate with readers ever since. Our friend and Giller Prize-winning author Suzette Mayr praised it, stating, “This book makes me proud to be a Calgarian.”
We are deeply grateful for independent bookstores like Pages on Kensington and Shelf Life Books. These businesses are cozy, queer positive, and significant supporters of Calgary writers. At those stores, not only will you find Our Past Matters but many other queer books and local authors—check them out!
As we come to the end of 2025, we wish all of our readers a happy holiday season and good things in the New Year.
{Here is another local gift idea: Our Past Matters cover artist Lisa Brawn—who is brilliant—has work for sale in this art market on Saturday!}
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Calgary Gay History 